Water drinking device and refrigerator

Abstract

The invention discloses a water drinking device and a refrigerator, and the water drinking device comprises a water outlet part which is provided with a water outlet; the water receiving table is used for placing a water cup; the scanning module is used for collecting scanning parameters between the water outlet and the water receiving table; the controller is electrically connected with the scanning module, and the controller is configured to execute the following steps that scanning parameters collected by the scanning module are obtained, and cup body coordinate information of a water cup placed on the water receiving table is determined according to the scanning parameters; the side wall regularity of the water cup is determined according to the cup body coordinate information, the cup body type of the water cup is determined based on the side wall regularity, and a volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup body type is matched; the real-time water volume in the water cup is calculated according to a volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup body type, and water outflow of the water outlet is controlled according to the real-time water volume in the water cup. The probability that water in the water cup overflows is reduced when the water drinking device receives water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of refrigerator manufacturing, and more particularly to a drinking water device and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] A refrigerator with a built-in water dispenser is a household appliance that integrates the functions of a refrigerator and a water dispenser. In addition to the refrigeration and freezing functions of a regular refrigerator, this type of refrigerator also has a built-in water dispenser system that can draw water directly from the refrigerator for cooling.

[0003] In the use of water dispensers in related technologies, after placing a water cup, the user observes whether the cup is below the water outlet of the dispenser and manually adjusts the position of the cup to fill the water. At the same time, during the water filling process, the user needs to constantly monitor the changes in the water level in the cup, rely on the human eye to judge the water volume, and manually control the water flow and stop via buttons.

[0004] However, in actual use, especially for children or the elderly, it is difficult to accurately judge the amount of water in the cup when filling it, which can easily lead to water overflowing the cup. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, embodiments of this application provide a drinking water device and a refrigerator.

[0006] Some embodiments of this application provide a drinking device, including: a water outlet with a water outlet; a water receiving platform for placing a water cup; a scanning module for collecting scanning parameters between the water outlet and the water receiving platform; and a controller electrically connected to the scanning module, the controller being configured to perform the following steps: acquiring the scanning parameters collected by the scanning module, and determining the cup coordinate information of the water cup placed on the water receiving platform based on the scanning parameters; determining the side wall regularity of the water cup based on the cup coordinate information, and determining the cup type based on the side wall regularity, and matching the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup type; calculating the real-time water volume in the water cup according to the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup type, and controlling the water flow from the water outlet according to the real-time water volume in the water cup.

[0007] In the above embodiment, the scanning module collects the scanning parameters between the water outlet and the water receiving platform, and determines the coordinate information of the water cup placed on the water receiving platform based on the scanning parameters. Based on the coordinate information of the water cup, the regularity of the side wall of the water cup is determined. Then, the type of water cup is determined based on the regularity of the side wall of the water cup, and the volume calculation formula corresponding to the type of water cup is matched. During the process of getting water through the drinking device, the real-time water volume in the water cup is calculated according to the volume calculation formula corresponding to the type of water cup, and the water outlet is controlled based on the real-time water volume. This allows the user to control the water outlet without having to constantly monitor the water level changes in the water cup, thereby reducing the situation of water overflowing from the water cup.

[0008] In some embodiments of this application, determining the sidewall regularity of the water cup based on the cup coordinate information includes: determining the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup rim based on a coordinate axis, and determining the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup bottom based on the same coordinate axis; establishing a cup regularity equation based on the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup rim, the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup bottom, and determining the maximum cross-section of the water cup; and determining the sidewall regularity of the water cup based on the maximum cross-section of the water cup and the cup regularity equation.

[0009] In the above embodiments, the regularity of the cup's sidewalls is determined based on the established cup body regularity equation and the determined maximum cross-section of the cup. The regularity of the sidewalls can be judged based on the cup body coordinate information obtained from the scanning parameters, without the need for additional auxiliary hardware, thereby saving hardware costs.

[0010] In some embodiments of this application, determining the sidewall regularity of the water cup based on the maximum cross-section of the water cup and the regularity equation of the cup body includes: determining multiple sidewall coordinate points on the maximum cross-section of the water cup, determining a linear function based on the regularity equation of the cup body, and generating a function graph corresponding to the linear function on the coordinate system corresponding to the cup body coordinate information; determining the positional relationship between the multiple sidewall coordinate points of the cup body and the function graph, and determining the sidewall regularity of the water cup based on the positional relationship.

[0011] In the above embodiment, a linear function is determined based on the cup body regularity equation, and the linear function is represented in the form of a function graph through the coordinate system corresponding to the cup body coordinate information. At the same time, multiple cup body sidewall coordinate points are determined on the maximum cross-section of the cup in the coordinate system corresponding to the cup body coordinate information. The regularity of the cup body sidewall is determined by the positional relationship between the multiple cup body sidewall coordinate points and the function graph, thereby making the determination of the regularity of the cup body sidewall more explicit.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, the step of determining the positional relationship between multiple coordinate points on the sidewalls of the cup and the function image, and determining the regularity of the sidewalls of the cup based on the positional relationship, includes: sequentially calculating the vertical distance between each coordinate point on the sidewalls of the cup and the function image; if the calculated vertical distances of all the coordinate points on the sidewalls of the cup are less than or equal to a preset error distance value, then the regularity of the sidewalls of the cup is determined to be flat; otherwise, the regularity of the sidewalls of the cup is determined to be uneven.

[0013] In the above embodiment, the regularity of the cup's sidewalls is determined by the relationship between the vertical distances calculated from all the coordinate points of the cup's sidewalls and the preset error distance value, making the calculations within the controller simpler and improving the controller's control efficiency.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, the step of calculating the real-time water volume in the cup according to the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup type includes: acquiring real-time collected liquid level coordinate information in the cup; determining the liquid height in the cup according to the liquid level coordinate information and the cup coordinate information; and calculating the water volume in the cup according to the liquid height in the cup and the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup.

[0015] In the above embodiments, by acquiring the real-time coordinate information of the liquid level inside the water cup, the real-time calculation of the water volume inside the water cup is realized, thereby improving the control effect of the controller.

[0016] In some embodiments of this application, determining the liquid height in the cup based on the liquid surface coordinate information and the cup body coordinate information includes: determining the inner bottom coordinate information and the outer bottom coordinate information of the cup based on the cup body coordinate information, and calculating the difference between the inner bottom coordinate information and the outer bottom coordinate information of the cup body to obtain the bottom thickness of the cup; determining the liquid level value in the cup based on the liquid surface coordinate information and the outer bottom coordinate information of the cup, and calculating the difference between the bottom thickness of the cup and the liquid level value in the cup to obtain the liquid height in the cup.

[0017] In the above embodiment, when calculating the liquid height in the cup, the thickness of the bottom of the cup is subtracted, thereby improving the accuracy of the water volume calculation and thus improving the control accuracy of the controller.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, determining the cup coordinate information of the water cup placed on the water receiving platform according to the scanning parameters includes: determining the item coordinate information between the water receiving platform and the scanning module according to the scanning parameters; and retaining the coordinate information between the top and bottom of the water cup in the item coordinate information in the coordinate system corresponding to the item coordinate information, based on the height direction of the water cup, as the cup coordinate information of the water cup.

[0019] In the above embodiments, retaining the cup coordinate information in the collected scanning parameters for cup capacity calculation can reduce the memory burden of the controller, improve the controller's operating efficiency, and thus improve the control effect.

[0020] In some embodiments of this application, controlling the water outlet to dispense water based on the real-time water volume in the cup includes: calculating the total capacity of the cup based on the scanning parameters; if the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches a preset capacity ratio, then controlling the water outlet to stop dispensing water; otherwise, controlling the water outlet to dispense water.

[0021] In the above embodiment, when the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup does not reach the preset capacity ratio, the water outlet can be controlled to continue dispensing water. Once the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches the preset capacity ratio, the controller will control the water outlet to stop dispensing water, thereby reducing the probability of water splashing out.

[0022] In some embodiments of this application, the drinking device further includes a prompting module, which is electrically connected to the controller; the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: if the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches a preset capacity ratio, then control the prompting module to perform an alarm prompt.

[0023] In the above embodiments, when the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches a preset ratio, the prompting module provides a timely reminder to the user so that the user can adjust the position of the cup in a timely manner.

[0024] Some embodiments of this application also provide a refrigerator, including: a drinking water device as described above; and a refrigeration assembly for cooling drinking water, wherein the cooled drinking water flows out through the water outlet of the drinking water device.

[0025] In the above embodiments, by combining the water drinking device with a refrigerator, the drinking water can be rapidly cooled based on the refrigerator's cooling function while reducing space occupation.

[0026] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a refrigerator, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the execution steps of a control program in a controller, as shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 3 A top view of a frustum-shaped water cup shown as an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the definite integral volume formula corresponding to the disk method for an irregularly shaped water cup, as shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the cross-section of a water cup in a spatial rectangular coordinate system, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a function graph representing the cup regularity equation on a Cartesian coordinate system, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 7 The flowchart illustrates the execution steps of the control program in a controller, which is another exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a refrigerator, which is another exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To make the objectives and implementation methods of this application clearer, the exemplary implementation methods of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the exemplary embodiments of this application. Obviously, the exemplary embodiments described are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0036] It should be noted that the brief descriptions of terms in this application are only for the convenience of understanding the embodiments described below, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this application. Unless otherwise stated, these terms should be understood in their ordinary and common meaning.

[0037] The terms "first," "second," "third," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar or related objects or entities, and do not necessarily imply a specific order or sequence, unless otherwise specified. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate.

[0038] The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover but not exclude inclusion, for example, a product or device that includes a range of components is not necessarily limited to all of the components that are clearly listed, but may include other components that are not clearly listed or that are inherent to such product or device.

[0039] It should be noted that "multiple" in this article refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a refrigerator, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 1 As shown, the refrigerator includes a cabinet 100, a water dispensing device can be installed on one side of the cabinet, and a refrigeration unit can be installed inside the cabinet.

[0041] The drinking water device may include a water outlet 110, which has a water outlet.

[0042] The refrigeration component is used to cool the drinking water, and the cooled drinking water flows out through the water outlet 110 of the drinking water device.

[0043] By combining the water dispenser with a refrigerator, the drinking water can be quickly cooled using the refrigerator's cooling function, while reducing space usage.

[0044] In some embodiments of this application, the water outlet 110 of the drinking device may be provided with a housing, which may be integrally formed with the refrigerator body 100, and the housing may also be independent, so that the housing may be fixedly connected to or detachably connected to the refrigerator body 100.

[0045] In some embodiments of this application, a water storage structure, such as a water storage tank, can be provided inside the refrigerator, and the water outlet on the drinking device can be connected to the water storage tank. In use, the drinking water in the water storage tank can be cooled by the refrigeration components inside the refrigerator, and the cooled drinking water can be dispensed through the water outlet on the drinking device.

[0046] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator may be equipped with a water pumping device. A refrigeration pipe may be installed inside the refrigerator. The inlet end of the refrigeration pipe is connected to the water pumping device, and the outlet end of the refrigeration pipe is connected to the outlet of a water dispenser. In use, the water pumping device can be connected to a water tank outside the refrigerator via a water pipe. The water pumping device draws drinking water from the water tank and delivers it to the refrigeration pipe inside the refrigerator. The refrigeration components then cool the drinking water in the refrigeration pipe, and finally, the cooled drinking water is released through the outlet of the water dispenser.

[0047] Based on the above embodiments, the refrigerator may also be without a water pump. Only a cooling pipe is installed inside the refrigerator. A water tank connection structure is installed on the top of the refrigerator, connecting to a water tank. Based on the gravity effect of the drinking water, the water is transported to the cooling pipe inside the refrigerator. The cooling components then cool the drinking water in the cooling pipe, and finally, the cooled drinking water is released through the outlet on the water dispenser.

[0048] The water outlet section 110 of the drinking water device may also be equipped with a control panel 120. The water outlet section 110 may also be equipped with a water outlet control switch. The control panel 120 is used to input control commands for the water outlet control switch, which can open and close the water outlet according to the user-input control commands.

[0049] The drinking device may also include a water receiving platform 130, the top of which is provided with a support platform for placing a water cup.

[0050] In some embodiments of this application, the water outlet on the water outlet faces the support platform on top of the water receiving platform, so that the drinking water flowing out of the water outlet can be collected by a water cup placed on the water receiving platform.

[0051] In some embodiments of this application, the water receiving platform of the drinking device may also be provided with a housing, which is the same as the housing of the water outlet. The housing of the water receiving platform may be integrally formed with the cabinet or may be independent, so that the housing of the water receiving platform may also be fixedly connected to or detachably connected to the cabinet of the refrigerator.

[0052] The drinking water device may also include a scanning module for collecting scanning parameters between the water outlet and the water receiving platform.

[0053] In some embodiments of this application, the scanning module may be a distance sensor. A distance sensor can be used to measure and sense the distance between an object and the sensor. Based on this principle, distance sensors can be used in more complex scanning applications. For example, multiple distance sensors (or a single movable distance sensor) can be used to scan the surface of an object to obtain its three-dimensional shape or contour. This scanning method may not be as accurate as methods such as laser scanning or structured light scanning, but it provides a fast and low-cost way to obtain basic shape information of an object.

[0054] Based on this, the distance sensor can be used to scan the water cup in this application, and the distance between each position on the water cup and the distance sensor can be collected by one or more distance sensors between the water outlet and the water receiving platform, so as to represent the three-dimensional coordinate model established by the distance sensor scanning area of ​​each position of the water cup.

[0055] It should be noted that the distance sensor in this application can be of various types, such as optical distance sensors, infrared distance sensors, and ultrasonic distance sensors. These sensors all use some form of energy (such as light, infrared radiation, or ultrasound) to measure the distance to an object.

[0056] In some embodiments of this application, the scanning module may also be a camera, a pushbroom imager, or the like. Such sensors can instantly form a line image or a two-dimensional image on the image plane, and then scan the image plane along a direction perpendicular to the satellite's orbital direction.

[0057] In some embodiments of this application, the scanning module may also be an infrared scanner, a multispectral scanner, an imaging spectrometer, etc. Such scanning sensors can scan and image the ground along a direction perpendicular to the satellite's orbital direction. The size of the ground coverage area is related to the swing angle of the CCD (Charge-coupled Device) element and the scanning unit.

[0058] In some embodiments of this application, as exemplarily described, the scanning module may include a scanning unit. The scanning unit may be positioned close to the water outlet to scan water cups placed on the water platform. For example, in some usage scenarios, when the scanned water cups are all regular-shaped, the identification of the water cups can be completed by setting up a single scanning unit.

[0059] The scanning module of this application may also include multiple sensing units. These multiple scanning units may be arranged around the water receiving platform. Alternatively, the multiple scanning units may be arranged separately near the water outlet and near the water receiving platform. This is for scanning water cups placed on the water receiving platform. For example, in some usage scenarios, when frequently scanning irregularly shaped water cups, it is necessary to identify the cups from multiple angles.

[0060] In some usage scenarios of the aforementioned water dispensers, if the user is a child or elderly person, they may not be able to judge the amount of water in the cup while filling it, resulting in water overflowing. In another scenario, if the water from the spout splashes onto the ground, it may cause the floor to become slippery, making it easy for children or the elderly to slip and fall, thus posing a safety hazard.

[0061] In other usage scenarios of the aforementioned water dispenser, if the user is suddenly interrupted by other things while filling the water dispenser, causing the user to fail to close the water outlet in time, the water in the cup will overflow, requiring the user to spend time cleaning it up, thus resulting in a poor user experience.

[0062] Therefore, in order to reduce the aforementioned security risks and improve the user experience, this application... Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the execution steps of a control program in a controller, as shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 2 As shown, the controller of the drinking water device can be configured to perform at least the following steps:

[0063] The scanning parameters collected by the scanning module are obtained, and the coordinate information of the cup placed on the water receiving platform is determined based on the scanning parameters.

[0064] The regularity of the sidewall of the water cup is determined based on the cup coordinate information, and the cup type is determined based on the sidewall regularity, as well as the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup type.

[0065] The real-time water volume in the cup is calculated according to the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup type, and the water flow from the spout is controlled according to the real-time water volume in the cup.

[0066] Specifically, the scanning parameters collected by the scanning module can be the coordinate parameters of all items between the water outlet and the water receiving platform in a three-dimensional coordinate system. Taking a distance sensor as an example, the scanning module scans the area of ​​the water receiving platform and simultaneously feeds back the identified coordinate information. This coordinate information can be represented as a spatial rectangular coordinate system (X, Y, Z) with the lower left corner of the water receiving platform as the origin. Here, X represents the X-axis, Y represents the Y-axis, and Z represents the Z-axis. Of course, the origin of the spatial rectangular coordinate system can also be any position between the water receiving platform and the water outlet.

[0067] To facilitate calculation, this application uses a direct coordinate system with the lower left corner of the water receiving platform as the origin, so that the three-dimensional space between the water outlet and the water receiving platform is located on the positive half-axis of the X-axis, the positive half-axis of the Y-axis, and the positive half-axis of the Z-axis.

[0068] After scanning the object between the water outlet and the water receiving platform using the scanning module, the object between the water outlet and the water receiving platform is represented by a coordinate model formed by a spatial rectangular coordinate system, where the plane formed by the X-axis and the Y-axis is used to represent the upper surface of the water receiving platform.

[0069] In the spatial rectangular coordinate system established based on the scanning parameters, the coordinate information of the water cup placed on the water receiving platform can be determined by representing the various positions of the water cup in the spatial rectangular coordinate system.

[0070] Furthermore, after determining the coordinate information of the cup body, the coordinate information of the side wall of the cup body is obtained based on the coordinate information of the cup body, and the regularity of the side wall of the cup is determined by the obtained side wall coordinate information.

[0071] To illustrate, for example, based on the coordinate information of the cup, a cross-section in the vertical direction of the cup is determined. The regularity of the contour corresponding to the side wall of the cup on this cross-section is used as the basis for judging the regularity of the cup's side wall. If the contour corresponding to the side wall of the cup is a straight line, it indicates that the side wall of the cup is regular; otherwise, it indicates that the side wall of the cup is irregular.

[0072] Based on the determination of the regularity of the cup's sidewalls, the cup type is further determined. For example, regular cup types may include cylindrical, prismatic, frustum-shaped, and truncated cone shapes. More specifically, for a specific cup type, the cup's bottom outline can be determined based on the cup's coordinate information. Then, the cup's bottom shape is determined based on this outline. Finally, the cup type is determined based on the bottom shape and the regularity of the cup's sidewalls. Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, irregular cup types can be uniformly considered as non-standard shapes.

[0073] After determining the type of water cup, match the corresponding volume calculation formula according to the cup type. The following example will illustrate this in detail:

[0074] In some embodiments of this application, if the cup body is cylindrical, the corresponding volume calculation formula is expressed by the following expression:

[0075] V = π·r 2 ·h (1)

[0076] In the above expression (1), V represents the volume; h represents the height of the water-filled space inside the cup; π represents pi; and r represents the radius of the bottom of the cup.

[0077] It should be noted that the radius of the circle (r) can be calculated based on the coordinates of the cup after determining that the bottom of the cup is circular. Similarly, the radius of the cup (h) can be calculated directly from the coordinates of the cup.

[0078] In some embodiments of this application, if the cup body is a regular prism, the corresponding volume calculation formula is expressed by the following expression:

[0079] V=(na) / (4tan(π / n))·h (2)

[0080] In the above expression (2), V represents the volume; h represents the height of the water-filled space inside the cup; n represents the number of sides of the polygon at the bottom of the cup; π represents pi; and a represents the length of one side of the polygon at the bottom of the cup.

[0081] Similarly, it should be noted that n can be determined based on the number of straight lines on the bottom outline of the cup, and a can be calculated as the side length of a regular polygon after the bottom of the cup is determined to be a regular polygon, based on the cup's coordinate information. h can be calculated directly from the cup's coordinate information.

[0082] In some embodiments of this application, if the cup body is frustum-shaped, the corresponding volume calculation formula is expressed by the following expression:

[0083] V = (1 / 3) ·π· h ·(r12 + r22 + r1·r2) (3)

[0084] In the above expression (3), V represents the volume; h represents the height of the water-filled space inside the cup; π represents pi; r1 represents the radius of the bottom of the cup; and r2 represents the radius of the mouth of the cup.

[0085] Similarly, Figure 3This is a top view of a frustum-shaped water cup shown as an exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 3 As shown, it should be noted that r1 can be obtained by calculating the radius of the cup's bottom circle based on the cup's coordinate information after determining that the cup's bottom is circular. r2 can be calculated as the radius of the cup's rim circle based on the cup's coordinate information. h can be obtained directly by calculating the cup's coordinate information.

[0086] In some embodiments of this application, if the cup body is a regular frustum shape, the corresponding volume calculation formula is expressed by the following expression:

[0087]

[0088] In the above expression (4), V represents the volume; h represents the height of the water-filled space inside the cup; S1 represents the area of ​​the bottom of the cup; and S2 represents the area of ​​the mouth of the cup.

[0089] S1 and S2 can both be represented by (na) / (4tan(π / n)) in the volume calculation formula of the regular prism in the above embodiment, and the corresponding parameters in their expressions correspond to the parameters in the volume calculation formula of the regular prism, which will not be repeated here.

[0090] Of course, there are other types of water cups in this application when the water cup type is regular in shape. For example, for water cups that are not regular prisms, they can be divided into multiple regular prism water cups for separate calculation.

[0091] In some embodiments of this application, if the cup body is irregularly shaped, the corresponding volume calculation formula can be either the definite integral volume formula corresponding to the disk method or the definite integral volume formula corresponding to the shell method. Taking the water cup of this application as an example, the disk method involves dividing the water cup into multiple disks, calculating and summing the volumes of each disk individually. The division direction can be along the height of the water cup, obtaining cross-sections of different heights at equal intervals, estimating the liquid volume between adjacent cross-sections, and so on, dividing the water volume in the cup into multiple parts for calculation.

[0092] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the definite integral volume formula corresponding to the disk method for an exemplary embodiment of this application for an irregularly shaped water cup. Figure 4 As shown, when using the definite integral volume formula corresponding to the disk method, the following example illustrates the application:

[0093] dV=A(y)dy (5)

[0094]

[0095] In the above expressions (5) and (6), dV represents the volume element, which is the product of the disk area and the disk thickness; A(y) represents the disk area; dy represents the disk thickness; V represents the volume; h1 represents the height of the bottom of the cup; when calculating the water volume in the cup, h2 represents the liquid height in the cup; when calculating the total capacity of the cup, h2 represents the height of the cup opening.

[0096] The scanning module obtains the liquid level in the cup in real time and calculates the water volume in the cup based on the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup type. When the water volume in the cup reaches the specified threshold, the controller can control the water outlet to actively close.

[0097] Through the above implementation method, the scanning module collects the scanning parameters between the water outlet and the water receiving platform, and determines the coordinate information of the water cup placed on the water receiving platform based on the scanning parameters. Based on the coordinate information of the water cup, the regularity of the side wall of the water cup is determined. Then, the type of water cup is determined based on the regularity of the side wall of the water cup, and the volume calculation formula corresponding to the type of water cup is matched. During the water dispensing process, the real-time water volume in the water cup is calculated according to the volume calculation formula corresponding to the type of water cup, and the water dispensing from the water outlet is controlled based on the real-time water volume. This allows users to control the water dispensing from the water outlet without having to constantly monitor the water level changes in the water cup, thereby reducing the possibility of water overflowing from the water cup.

[0098] It should be noted that, in order to execute the preset control program on the controller in the above embodiments, the controller of this application is equipped with a storage module for storing the control program. The storage module may include a built-in memory and an external memory. The built-in memory is located inside the controller, and the external memory is electrically connected to the controller. The external and built-in memories are used for writing and reading the control program, as well as storing execution parameters. For example, the built-in memory is generally directly connected to the CPU (Central Processing Unit) corresponding to the controller. Its storage capacity is generally small, but because it is directly connected to the CPU, its speed is relatively fast. In this application, the built-in memory is used to store the instructions and data of the currently running program and directly exchange information with the CPU. The built-in memory consists of many storage units, each capable of storing a binary number or an instruction represented by binary code. The internal memory is composed of random access memory and read-only memory. External memory refers to memory other than the memory configured in the controller and the CPU cache. Such memory can generally retain data even after power failure, such as hard disks, floppy disks, optical disks, and USB flash drives.

[0099] In some embodiments of this application, determining the coordinate information of the water cup placed on the water receiving platform based on scanning parameters in the above embodiments may include at least the following steps:

[0100] Based on the scanning parameters, determine the coordinate information of the item between the water receiving platform and the scanning module;

[0101] In the coordinate system corresponding to the item's coordinate information, based on the height direction of the cup, the coordinate information between the top and bottom of the cup in the item's coordinate information is retained as the cup's body coordinate information.

[0102] It should be noted that, based on the process of establishing the spatial rectangular coordinate system in the above embodiments, the coordinate information of the item between the water receiving platform and the scanning module is determined by scanning parameters, and the coordinate information of the item includes the coordinate information of the water receiving platform and the coordinate information of the water cup.

[0103] To illustrate, when obtaining the cup's coordinate information from the object's coordinate information, the highest and lowest points of the cup are obtained based on its height direction. For example, in the direction corresponding to the Z-axis in a Cartesian coordinate system, the maximum and minimum values ​​of the cup on the Z-axis are determined. The coordinate information between the highest and lowest points of the cup is retained, while other coordinate information is deleted. The coordinate information between the top and bottom of the cup is then used as the cup's coordinate information for subsequent calculations of the cup's capacity.

[0104] By implementing the above methods, retaining the cup coordinates in the collected scanning parameters for cup capacity calculation can reduce the memory burden on the controller, improve the controller's operating efficiency, and thus enhance the control effect.

[0105] In some embodiments of this application, determining the sidewall regularity of the water cup based on the cup coordinate information in the above embodiments may further include at least the following steps:

[0106] In the cup body coordinate information, the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup rim are determined based on one coordinate axis, and the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup bottom are determined based on the same coordinate axis.

[0107] Based on the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup rim, the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup bottom, establish the regularity equation of the cup body and determine the maximum cross-section of the cup.

[0108] The regularity of the sidewalls of the water cup is determined based on the equation of the maximum cross-section of the cup and the regularity of the cup body.

[0109] Specifically, taking the cup coordinate information obtained in the above embodiment as an example, the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup rim are determined based on a coordinate axis. The coordinate axis can be the Y-axis or the X-axis in the aforementioned Cartesian coordinate system; this embodiment uses the X-axis for illustrative purposes. Along the X-axis, the maximum coordinate value X1 and the minimum coordinate value X2 of the cup rim, as well as the maximum coordinate value X3 and the minimum coordinate value X4 of the cup bottom, are obtained respectively.

[0110] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the cross-section of a water cup in a spatial rectangular coordinate system, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 5 As shown, the maximum cross-section of the water cup is determined based on the maximum coordinate value X1 of the cup rim, the minimum coordinate value X2 of the cup rim, the maximum coordinate value X3 of the cup bottom, and the minimum coordinate value X4 of the cup bottom.

[0111] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the equation for the regularity of a cup body as a function graph on a Cartesian coordinate system, as shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, a regularity equation for the cup body is established based on the maximum coordinate value X1 of the cup rim, the minimum coordinate value X2 of the cup rim, the maximum coordinate value X3 of the cup bottom, and the minimum coordinate value X4 of the cup bottom. This regularity equation can be one or more; the embodiment in this application uses one, establishing the regularity equation Z = aX + b. In this equation, Z represents the coordinate value of the Z-axis in the cup coordinate information; X represents the coordinate value of the X-axis in the cup coordinate information; and a and b represent the parameter values ​​calculated based on the maximum coordinate value X1 of the cup rim, the minimum coordinate value X2 of the cup rim, the maximum coordinate value X3 of the cup bottom, and the minimum coordinate value X4 of the cup bottom. It should be noted that... Figure 6 In the diagram, X5 and X6 represent the coordinate points corresponding to the side wall of the cup on the largest cross-section.

[0112] The regularity of the sidewalls of the water cup is determined by the relationship between the coordinate point corresponding to the largest cross section of the cup and the corresponding straight line of the cup's regularity equation.

[0113] Through the above implementation method, the regularity of the sidewall of the water cup is determined based on the established cup body regularity equation and the determined maximum cross-section of the water cup. The regularity of the sidewall can be judged based on the cup body coordinate information obtained by scanning parameters, without the need for additional auxiliary hardware, thereby saving hardware costs.

[0114] In some embodiments of this application, determining the sidewall regularity of the water cup based on the maximum cross-section and the regularity equation of the cup body in the above embodiments may further include at least the following steps:

[0115] Multiple coordinate points on the side walls of the cup are determined on the maximum cross-section of the cup, and a linear function is determined according to the regularity equation of the cup. The function graph corresponding to the linear function is then generated on the coordinate system corresponding to the coordinate information of the cup.

[0116] Determine the positional relationship between the coordinates of multiple cup sidewalls and the function graph, and determine the regularity of the cup sidewalls based on the positional relationship.

[0117] Specifically, multiple coordinate points on the side wall of the cup can be determined on the maximum cross-section of the cup. These points can be selected at equal intervals based on the Z-axis of the spatial rectangular coordinate system and the coordinate information corresponding to the maximum cross-section.

[0118] Specifically, a linear function is determined based on the cup's regularity equation. Referring to the cup's regularity equation Z = aX + b in the above embodiment, a function graph corresponding to the linear function is generated on the coordinate system corresponding to the cup's coordinate information, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the straight line containing the maximum coordinate value X1 and the minimum coordinate value X2 of the cup opening represents the angle of the line. Here, a represents the slope of the line and b represents the intercept.

[0119] Through the above implementation method, a linear function is determined based on the cup body regularity equation, and the linear function is represented in the form of a function graph through the coordinate system corresponding to the cup body coordinate information. At the same time, multiple cup body side wall coordinate points are determined on the maximum cross section of the cup in the coordinate system corresponding to the cup body coordinate information. The regularity of the cup body side wall is judged by the positional relationship between the multiple cup body side wall coordinate points and the function graph, thereby making the judgment of the regularity of the cup body side wall more clear.

[0120] In some embodiments of this application, for determining the positional relationship between multiple cup sidewall coordinate points and the function graph in the above embodiments, and determining the regularity of the cup sidewall based on the positional relationship, the method further includes at least the following steps:

[0121] Calculate the vertical distance between each coordinate point on the side wall of the cup and the function graph in turn;

[0122] If the calculated vertical distances of all coordinate points on the sidewalls of the cup are less than or equal to the preset error distance value, then the regularity of the sidewalls of the cup is determined to be flat; otherwise, the regularity of the sidewalls of the cup is determined to be uneven.

[0123] For example, the vertical distance between each coordinate point on the side wall of the cup and the function graph is calculated based on the coordinate values ​​of the obtained coordinate points. When the vertical distance between all the side wall coordinate points and the function graph is less than or equal to a preset error distance value, the regularity of the side wall of the cup is determined to be flat. In this case, it is said that the side wall of the cup is regular.

[0124] Conversely, if the regularity of the cup's sidewall is determined to be uneven, then the cup's sidewall is irregular. For example, the preset error distance value is 1 millimeter. If the vertical distance between the coordinate point of the cup's sidewall and the function graph is greater than 1 millimeter, it indicates that the cup's sidewall is irregular.

[0125] In some embodiments of this application, a tolerance range can be set. If the calculated vertical distances from multiple cup sidewall coordinate points are mostly less than or equal to a preset error distance value, the cup's sidewall regularity can be determined to be flat; otherwise, the cup's sidewall regularity is determined to be uneven. Most of these tolerances can be determined by a preset percentage tolerance, for example, 98%. If 98% of the coordinate points on multiple cup sidewalls are less than or equal to the preset error distance value, the cup's sidewall regularity can be determined to be flat. Alternatively, most can be determined by a precise number of points. If there are 20 preset cup sidewall coordinate points, and only two or fewer points have calculated vertical distances that do not meet the condition of being less than or equal to the preset error distance value, the cup's sidewall regularity can also be determined to be flat.

[0126] By using the above implementation method, the regularity of the cup's sidewalls is determined by the relationship between the vertical distance calculated from all the coordinate points of the cup's sidewalls and the preset error distance value, making the calculations within the controller simpler and improving the controller's control efficiency.

[0127] In some embodiments of this application, calculating the real-time water volume in a cup according to the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup type in the above embodiments may include at least the following steps:

[0128] Acquire real-time coordinate information of the liquid level inside the water cup;

[0129] Determine the liquid height inside the cup based on the liquid surface coordinates and the cup body coordinates;

[0130] The volume of water in the cup can be calculated based on the liquid level inside the cup and the corresponding volume formula.

[0131] Specifically, the liquid level coordinate information in this application can be collected by a scanning module or by a separate distance sensor. When collecting data using a separate distance sensor, the liquid level coordinate information needs to be correlated with the coordinate information of the cup.

[0132] By implementing the above methods, the real-time calculation of the water volume in the cup is achieved by acquiring the real-time coordinate information of the liquid level inside the cup, thereby improving the control effect of the controller.

[0133] In some embodiments of this application, determining the liquid height in the cup based on the liquid surface coordinate information and the cup body coordinate information in the above embodiments may further include at least the following steps:

[0134] Based on the cup body coordinate information, determine the inner bottom coordinate information and the outer bottom coordinate information of the cup, and calculate the difference between the inner bottom coordinate information and the outer bottom coordinate information of the cup body to obtain the bottom thickness of the cup.

[0135] Based on the coordinates of the liquid surface and the outer bottom of the cup, the liquid level inside the cup is determined, and the difference between the thickness of the bottom of the cup and the liquid level is calculated to obtain the liquid height inside the cup.

[0136] To illustrate, after determining the coordinates of the liquid level inside the cup, the thickness of the cup body at the bottom is calculated based on the coordinates of the cup body.

[0137] Based on this, when calculating the liquid height in the cup, the thickness of the cup is subtracted from the liquid height in the liquid surface coordinate information to obtain the liquid height in the cup, and the amount of water in the cup is calculated based on the calculated liquid height.

[0138] By implementing the above method, when calculating the liquid height in the cup, the thickness of the bottom of the cup is subtracted, thereby improving the accuracy of the water volume calculation and thus improving the control accuracy of the controller.

[0139] In some embodiments of this application, Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the execution steps of a control program in a controller, as shown in another exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 7 As shown, in the above embodiment, controlling the water flow from the outlet based on the real-time water volume in the cup may further include at least the following steps:

[0140] Calculate the total capacity of the cup based on the scanning parameters;

[0141] If the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches the preset ratio, the spout will stop dispensing water; otherwise, the spout will continue dispensing water.

[0142] It should be noted that the water level in a cup can be categorized into at least two states. In one state, the cup is not full, and because there is still space for the liquid to move, shaking the hand while holding the cup is unlikely to cause spillage. In the other state, the cup is full, and because there is no space for the liquid to move, shaking the hand while holding the cup is likely to cause spillage. Therefore, this application controls the water flow from the spout by setting a preset capacity ratio, which can reduce the probability of the cup becoming completely full.

[0143] To illustrate, if the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup does not reach the preset capacity ratio, it indicates that there is still a lot of water storage space left in the cup. Continuing to add water will not cause water to splash out. Therefore, the water outlet of the drinking device can keep dispensing water.

[0144] When the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup is greater than the preset capacity ratio, it indicates that the water storage space in the cup cannot accommodate liquid overflow caused by hand shaking.

[0145] Based on this, if the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches a preset ratio, the controller will stop the water outlet from dispensing water, thereby reducing the chance of liquid splashing out after the cup is taken out.

[0146] Through the above implementation method, when the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup does not reach the preset capacity ratio, the water outlet can be controlled to continue dispensing water. Once the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches the preset capacity ratio, the controller will control the water outlet to stop dispensing water, thereby reducing the chance of water splashing out.

[0147] In some embodiments of this application, the drinking device may further include a prompting module, which is electrically connected to the controller. The controller may also be configured to perform the following steps:

[0148] If the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches a preset ratio, the control prompt module will issue an alarm.

[0149] It should be noted that the notification module of this application can notify the user of abnormal situations through various means such as sound, light, and vibration.

[0150] For example, the prompting module can be a sound-emitting component, which emits a sound to prompt the user when the result of judging the placement of the water cup is abnormal.

[0151] For example, the prompt module can be a light-emitting component, which can emit a flash to prompt the user when the result of the water cup placement judgment is abnormal.

[0152] For example, the notification module can be a vibration component, which can vibrate to alert the user when the placement of the water cup is determined to be abnormal.

[0153] For example, Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a refrigerator, illustrating another exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 8As shown, the prompt module can be a display component. When the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches a preset ratio, for example, when the ratio reaches 90%, the display component will display preset prompt content to prompt the user, such as the words "Please take away the cup". At the same time, the color of the displayed content can be set, such as red or yellow, to make the displayed content more eye-catching and thus enhance the prompt effect.

[0154] Of course, no specific restrictions are placed on the specific structure of the prompt module in this application; it is only provided as an example.

[0155] Through the above implementation method, when the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches a preset ratio, the prompting module will promptly remind the user so that the user can adjust the position of the cup in time.

[0156] Regarding the accompanying drawings of the various embodiments of this application, it should be noted that the flowcharts and block diagrams in the drawings illustrate the architecture, functions, and operations of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of this application. Each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, program segment, or part of code, which includes one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the blocks may occur in a different order than that shown in the drawings. For example, two consecutively indicated blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each block in a block diagram or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in a block diagram or flowchart, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or operation, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0157] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0158] For ease of explanation, the above description has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Various modifications and variations can be obtained based on the above teachings. The selection and description of the above embodiments are for the purpose of better explaining the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better utilize the described embodiments and various different variations of embodiments suitable for specific use considerations.

Claims

1. A drinking water device, characterized in that, include: The water outlet section is equipped with a water outlet. A water tray for placing water cups; The scanning module is used to collect scanning parameters between the water outlet and the water receiving platform; A controller, electrically connected to the scanning module, is configured to perform the following steps: The scanning parameters collected by the scanning module are obtained, and the coordinate information of the water cup placed on the water receiving platform is determined based on the scanning parameters. The regularity of the sidewall of the water cup is determined based on the cup coordinate information, and the cup type of the water cup is determined based on the sidewall regularity, as well as the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup type; The real-time water volume in the cup is calculated according to the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup type, and the water flow from the outlet is controlled according to the real-time water volume in the cup.

2. The drinking water device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the regularity of the sidewall of the water cup based on the cup coordinate information includes: In the cup body coordinate information, the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup rim are determined based on a coordinate axis, and the maximum and minimum coordinate values ​​of the cup bottom are determined based on the same coordinate axis. Based on the maximum coordinate value of the cup rim, the minimum coordinate value of the cup rim, the maximum coordinate value of the cup bottom, and the minimum coordinate value of the cup bottom, establish the regularity equation of the cup body and determine the maximum cross-section of the water cup; The regularity of the sidewalls of the water cup is determined based on the maximum cross-section of the water cup and the regularity equation of the cup body.

3. The drinking water device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining the sidewall regularity of the water cup based on the maximum cross-section of the cup and the regularity equation of the cup body includes: Multiple coordinate points on the sidewalls of the cup are determined on the maximum cross-section of the cup, and a linear function is determined according to the regularity equation of the cup. The function image corresponding to the linear function is generated on the coordinate system corresponding to the coordinate information of the cup. The positional relationship between multiple coordinate points on the sidewall of the cup and the function graph is determined, and the regularity of the sidewall of the cup is determined based on the positional relationship.

4. The drinking water device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The step of determining the positional relationship between multiple coordinate points on the sidewalls of the cup and the function graph, and determining the regularity of the sidewalls of the cup based on the positional relationship, includes: Calculate the vertical distance between each coordinate point on the side wall of the cup and the function graph in sequence; If the calculated vertical distances of all coordinate points on the sidewalls of the cup are less than or equal to the preset error distance value, then the regularity of the sidewalls of the cup is determined to be flat; otherwise, the regularity of the sidewalls of the cup is determined to be uneven.

5. The drinking water device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of calculating the real-time water volume in the cup according to the volume calculation formula corresponding to the cup type includes: Obtain the real-time coordinate information of the liquid level inside the water cup; The liquid height inside the cup is determined based on the liquid level coordinates and the cup body coordinates. The volume of water in the cup is calculated based on the liquid level inside the cup and the corresponding volume calculation formula.

6. The drinking water device according to claim 5, characterized in that, Determining the liquid height in the cup based on the liquid surface coordinates and the cup body coordinates includes: Based on the cup body coordinate information, determine the inner bottom coordinate information and the outer bottom coordinate information of the water cup, and calculate the difference between the inner bottom coordinate information and the outer bottom coordinate information of the cup body to obtain the bottom thickness of the water cup; Based on the liquid surface coordinates and the outer bottom coordinates of the water cup, the liquid level in the water cup is determined, and the difference between the bottom thickness of the water cup and the liquid level in the water cup is calculated to obtain the liquid height in the water cup.

7. The drinking water device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the coordinate information of the water cup placed on the water receiving platform based on the scanning parameters includes: Based on the scanning parameters, determine the coordinate information of the item between the water receiving platform and the scanning module; In the coordinate system corresponding to the item coordinate information, based on the height direction of the water cup, the coordinate information between the top and bottom of the water cup in the item coordinate information is retained as the cup body coordinate information of the water cup.

8. The drinking water device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The step of controlling the water flow from the outlet based on the real-time water volume in the cup includes: Calculate the total capacity of the water cup based on the scanning parameters; If the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches a preset ratio, the water outlet is controlled to stop dispensing water; otherwise, the water outlet is controlled to dispense water.

9. The drinking water device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The drinking device also includes a prompting module, which is electrically connected to the controller; the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: If the ratio of the water volume in the cup to the total capacity of the cup reaches a preset ratio, the prompting module will be controlled to issue an alarm.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: The drinking water device as described in any one of claims 1-9; A refrigeration component is used to cool drinking water, and the cooled drinking water flows out through the water outlet of the drinking device.

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