Refrigeration equipment, demisting method, controller and refrigerator

Abstract

The invention discloses refrigeration equipment, a demisting method, a controller and a refrigerator, a camera shooting assembly is installed in a compartment of the refrigeration equipment, the camera shooting assembly comprises a sealing shell and a camera shooting control panel connected with a camera, the camera shooting control panel is arranged in the sealing shell, the sealing shell is provided with a light-transmitting part, and the camera is arranged towards the light-transmitting part; the camera shooting control panel is further provided with a heating assembly, and the refrigeration equipment is used for starting the heating assembly when it is detected that the temperature of the camera is lower than the temperature of the compartment and / or it is detected that the image shot by the camera is lower than the definition requirement. In the embodiment of the invention, continuous anti-fog and active defogging can be realized, and the energy efficiency of the refrigerator is improved while the quality of a shot picture is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigerator application technology, and in particular to a refrigeration device, a defogging method, a controller, and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Some refrigerators now have cameras installed inside the compartment to capture images of food entering and leaving the refrigerator, providing users with information on food preservation. However, the temperature inside the refrigerator is usually significantly different from the ambient temperature. When the refrigerator door is opened, moisture from the environment condenses on the cooler camera surface, preventing the camera from capturing images properly.

[0003] Related technologies utilize heating wires to defog the camera and use human body sensors to determine if the user needs to open the door. If the system determines the user won't open the door, the heating wire operates at low standby power; if the system determines the user needs to open the door, the heating wire heats the camera at higher power. While this solution can defog the camera, the energy consumption of the heating wire affects the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator and requires further optimization. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a refrigeration device, a defogging method, a controller, and a refrigerator, which can achieve continuous anti-fogging and active defogging, ensuring the quality of captured images while improving the refrigerator's energy efficiency.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a refrigeration device, wherein a camera assembly is installed in the compartment of the refrigeration device, the camera assembly includes a sealed housing and a camera control board connected to a camera, the camera control board is disposed inside the sealed housing, the sealed housing is provided with a light-transmitting part, and the camera is disposed facing the light-transmitting part; The camera control board is also equipped with a heating component. The cooling device is used to activate the heating component when the temperature of the camera is detected to be lower than the room temperature, and / or when the image captured by the camera is detected to be lower than the resolution requirement.

[0006] In some embodiments, the heating component is a heating film that is attached to at least a portion of the housing of the camera.

[0007] In some embodiments, the sealed housing includes a first cover and a second cover. The first cover has a wire outlet hole, and the second cover has the light-transmitting portion. The external wiring of the camera control board is connected to the main control board of the cooling device through the wire outlet hole, and a sealing element is provided at the wire outlet hole.

[0008] In some embodiments, the light-transmitting portion is a lens module, which includes a concave surface and a convex surface. The concave surface is disposed close to the camera, and the convex surface protrudes from the surface of the sealing housing.

[0009] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a defogging method applied to the refrigeration equipment as described in the first aspect, the defogging method comprising: The heating assembly is activated in response to the detection that the temperature of the camera is lower than the room temperature. And / or, in response to detecting that the image captured by the camera is below the required resolution, the heating component is activated.

[0010] In some embodiments, the method further includes at least one of the following: In response to detecting that the door of the refrigeration equipment is opened, the temperature of the camera and the temperature of the room are acquired, and the temperature of the camera is compared with the temperature of the room; The temperature of the camera and the temperature of the room are acquired at a first time interval, and the temperature of the camera is compared with the temperature of the room. In response to the detection that the door of the refrigeration equipment is opened, the camera is triggered to take a picture, and the image captured by the camera is used for object recognition; The camera is triggered to take pictures according to the second time interval, and the captured images are used for object recognition.

[0011] In some embodiments, activating the heating component in response to detecting that the image captured by the camera is below a certain resolution requirement includes: Acquire images captured by the camera, determine the pixel distribution of the captured images, and perform gradient calculation on the captured images pixel by pixel; If the gradient calculation result of the captured image is less than the sharpness threshold in the sharpness requirement, it is determined that the captured image is below the sharpness requirement, and the heating component is activated.

[0012] In some embodiments, after activating the heating component, the method further includes: In response to the detection that the temperature of the camera is higher than a preset safe temperature, the heating component is turned off; And / or, in response to detecting that the image captured by the camera meets the required clarity and that the temperature of the camera is higher than the room temperature, the heating component is turned off.

[0013] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a controller including at least one processor and a memory for communicatively connecting to the at least one processor; the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the defogging method as described in the second aspect.

[0014] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator including the controller described in the second aspect.

[0015] The refrigeration equipment, defogging method, controller, and refrigerator of this application embodiment have at least the following beneficial effects: A camera assembly is installed inside the refrigeration equipment. The camera assembly houses the camera and camera control board through a sealed housing. The sealed housing can isolate the camera from external moisture, and can also utilize the residual heat from the components on the camera control board to raise the temperature inside the sealed housing, ensuring that the temperature of the camera and the light-transmitting part is higher than the temperature of the compartment, thus achieving continuous defogging. When the door of the refrigeration equipment is opened, causing the temperature of the compartment to be higher than the temperature of the camera, or when moisture condenses on the light-transmitting part, resulting in insufficient image clarity, a heating assembly is activated to raise the temperature inside the sealed housing, thereby achieving defogging. Through the above method, the camera is kept in a relatively dry environment by the sealed structure, and the heat from the components on the camera control board is used to raise the temperature of the sealed cavity. This reduces the operating time of the heating assembly, improves the energy efficiency of the refrigeration equipment, and the active defogging by the heating assembly ensures that the camera can maintain normal operation and guarantees the quality of the captured images.

[0016] Other features and advantages of this application will be set forth in the following description and will be apparent in part from the description or may be learned by practicing the application. The objectives and other advantages of this application may be realized and obtained by means of the structures particularly pointed out in the description and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the camera assembly provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the camera control board provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 An exploded view of the camera assembly provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 A detailed flowchart of a demisting method for a refrigeration device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 A detailed flowchart of a demisting method for a refrigeration apparatus provided in another embodiment of this application; Figure 6 A flowchart of a method for responding to detecting that an image captured by a camera is below a resolution requirement, as provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 A detailed flowchart of a demisting method for a refrigeration apparatus provided in another embodiment of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of a controller provided in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various implementations. Simultaneously, the steps or actions described in the method description can be rearranged or adjusted in a manner readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various orders in the specification and drawings are merely for the clear description of a particular embodiment and do not imply a mandatory order, unless otherwise stated that a particular order must be followed.

[0019] In the description of this application, "several" means one or more, "more than" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0020] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages).

[0021] Some refrigerators now have cameras installed inside the compartment to capture images of food entering and leaving the refrigerator, providing users with information on food preservation. However, the temperature inside the refrigerator is usually significantly different from the ambient temperature. When the refrigerator door is opened, moisture from the environment condenses on the cooler camera surface, preventing the camera from capturing images properly.

[0022] Related technologies utilize heating wires to defog the camera and use human body sensors to determine if the user needs to open the door. If the system determines the user won't open the door, the heating wire operates at low standby power; if the system determines the user needs to open the door, the heating wire heats the camera at higher power. While this solution can defog the camera, the energy consumption of the heating wire affects the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator and requires further optimization.

[0023] This application provides a refrigeration device, a defogging method, a controller, and a refrigerator. A camera assembly is installed inside the refrigeration device. The camera assembly houses the camera and a camera control board within a sealed housing. The sealed housing isolates the camera from external moisture and utilizes the residual heat from the components on the camera control board to raise the temperature inside the sealed housing. This ensures that the temperature of the camera and the light-transmitting part is higher than the temperature inside the housing, achieving continuous defogging. When the door of the refrigeration device is opened, causing the temperature inside the housing to exceed the camera's temperature, or when moisture condensation on the light-transmitting part results in insufficient image clarity, a heating assembly is activated to raise the temperature inside the sealed housing, thereby achieving defogging. Through this method, the sealed structure keeps the camera in a relatively dry environment, and the heat from the components on the camera control board raises the temperature of the sealed cavity. This reduces the operating time of the heating assembly, improving the energy efficiency of the refrigeration device. Furthermore, the active defogging function of the heating assembly ensures the camera can maintain normal operation and guarantees the quality of the captured images.

[0024] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, explains the refrigeration equipment, defogging method, controller, and refrigerator.

[0025] Reference Figure 1-2 As shown, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the camera assembly provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the camera control board 140 provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0026] In some embodiments, a camera assembly is installed in the compartment of the refrigeration equipment. The camera assembly includes a sealed housing 100 and a camera control board 140 connected to a camera 130. The camera control board 140 is disposed inside the sealed housing 100. The sealed housing 100 is provided with a light-transmitting part 200. The camera 130 is disposed facing the light-transmitting part. The sealed housing 100 can isolate the camera 130 from the compartment environment, further preventing external moisture from seeping into the camera assembly and affecting the service life of the camera assembly. Furthermore, the camera 130 can acquire images of the compartment through the light-transmitting part, realizing real-time monitoring of the storage status of the compartment.

[0027] It is worth noting that, by setting the sealed housing 100 in this application embodiment, not only can the camera 130 be effectively isolated from the external environment, but the sealed housing 100 can also maintain the internal temperature, and further maintain the temperature of the camera component, so as to avoid interference from the external temperature.

[0028] It should be noted that the camera components in this application embodiment can be installed in the compartment of the refrigeration equipment by means of attachment, embedding or hanging, and the compartment of the refrigeration equipment can be provided with one or more camera components. When one camera component is installed in the compartment, the camera component can be installed in the center of the top of the compartment; when multiple camera components are installed in the compartment, the multiple camera components can be respectively installed in the top, side wall or other areas of the compartment. This application embodiment does not make specific limitations.

[0029] Specifically, in this embodiment, the camera 130 is close to the light-transmitting part, or the camera 130 is attached to the light-transmitting part, so that the temperature of the camera 130 and the light-transmitting part tends to be the same, further avoiding the condensation caused by the large temperature difference on both sides of the light-transmitting part, thereby avoiding the influence of water vapor and improving the clarity of the camera 130.

[0030] In some embodiments, the camera control board 140 is further provided with a heating component 300. The cooling device is used to activate the heating component when it is detected that the temperature of the camera 130 is lower than the room temperature, and / or when it is detected that the image captured by the camera 130 is lower than the resolution requirement, thereby raising the temperature inside the sealed housing 100, thereby preventing the camera 130 from being too cold and generating water vapor, and achieving defogging.

[0031] In some embodiments, the heating component is a heating film, which is attached to at least a portion of the housing of the camera 130 to heat the camera 130 and prevent the temperature of the camera 130 from falling below the room temperature.

[0032] It should be noted that the heating film can be wrapped around the housing of the camera 130, that is, the housing of the camera 130 is surrounded by the heating film, thereby achieving uniform heating of the camera 130; the heating film can also be set on the housing of the camera 130 at preset intervals, for example, the heating film is evenly set on the housing of the camera 130 at a interval of one centimeter, the heating film is evenly set on the housing of the camera 130 at a interval of five millimeters, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not impose specific limitations.

[0033] It is understood that the heating component in the embodiments of this application can also be a heating wire. When the heating component is a heating wire, the heating wire can be wound around at least a part of the housing of the camera 130 to achieve heating of the camera 130.

[0034] In some embodiments, the camera control board 140 is also provided with a temperature sensor 310, which is disposed in the housing of the camera 130 and is used to detect the temperature of the camera 130 in real time, so as to facilitate subsequent determination of whether the heating component needs to be activated.

[0035] Reference Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3An exploded view of the camera component provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0036] In some embodiments, the sealed housing 100 includes a first cover 110 and a second cover 120. The first cover 110 has a wire outlet hole 400, and the second cover 120 has a light-transmitting part. The external wiring of the camera control board 140 is connected to the main control board of the cooling device through the wire outlet hole 400 to realize data transmission between the camera component and the cooling device. A sealing element 510 is provided at the wire outlet hole 400 to prevent water vapor from entering the sealed housing 100, reduce the source of water vapor for condensation, and avoid condensation on the mirror surface of the camera 130.

[0037] It is worth noting that a sealing ring 520 is provided at the connection between the first cover 110 and the second cover 120 in this embodiment of the application, which can further prevent moisture from entering the sealing housing 100, keep the inside of the sealing housing 100 in a dry state, and at the same time keep the camera 130 inside the sealing housing 100 in a relatively dry environment, and prevent the sealing housing 100 from being interfered with by external problems.

[0038] It is understood that the sealing element in the embodiments of this application can be a sealing sponge, sealing rubber, foam sealing element, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not impose specific limitations.

[0039] It should be noted that the first cover 110 and the second cover 120 in this embodiment can be connected by wedges, slots, threads, etc. Specifically, when the first cover 110 and the second cover 120 are connected by wedges, the first cover 110 and the second cover 120 can be fixed by wedge elements; when the first cover 110 and the second cover 120 are connected by slots, the first cover 110 is provided with a buckle, and the second cover 120 is provided with a corresponding slot, etc. This embodiment does not impose specific limitations.

[0040] In some embodiments, the light-transmitting part is a lens module, which includes a concave surface and a convex surface. The concave surface is located close to the camera 130, and the convex surface protrudes from the surface of the sealed housing 100. The concave surface in the lens module is located close to the camera 130, which can better control the incident and reflected light, thereby improving the clarity and contrast of the image. The convex surface can enhance the light-gathering ability of the lens, enabling the camera 130 to obtain better imaging results even in low-light conditions.

[0041] Specifically, in this embodiment, the light-transmitting part can also be a plane mirror module, in which case the camera 130 monitors the storage status of the compartment of the refrigeration equipment in real time through the plane mirror module.

[0042] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that Figures 1 to 3The schematic diagrams shown do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this application. They may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements. The control method in this embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0043] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a demisting method for a refrigeration device provided in an embodiment of this application. The method is applicable to, but not limited to, applications of, a refrigeration device. Figure 1 The refrigeration device, the defogging method includes, but is not limited to, steps S101 to S102.

[0044] Step S101: In response to detecting that the temperature of the camera 130 is lower than the room temperature, the heating component is activated.

[0045] In step S101 of some embodiments, during the operation of the refrigeration equipment, situations may occur such as the door of the refrigeration equipment being opened or the refrigeration components of the refrigeration equipment being damaged. In these cases, the temperature of the chamber will rise. If water vapor is present at this time, the water vapor in the air will more easily reach a saturated state. When it comes into contact with the cooler light-transmitting part or the camera 130, it will condense into water droplets, forming fog, thereby affecting the shooting clarity of the camera 130. Therefore, this embodiment of the application will detect the temperature of the camera 130 and the temperature of the chamber in real time, so as to avoid the occurrence of fogging on the camera 130 or the light-transmitting part. In response to detecting that the temperature of the camera 130 is lower than the temperature of the chamber, the heating component is activated to raise the temperature of the camera 130, and further raise the temperature inside the sealed housing 100 of the camera component. By changing the temperature of the camera 130, the occurrence of fogging on the camera 130 or the light-transmitting part is avoided, and a defogging effect is achieved.

[0046] It is worth noting that the camera control board 140 in this embodiment is also equipped with a temperature sensor 310. The temperature sensor 310 is used to detect the temperature of the camera 130 in real time and transmit the temperature data to the cooling device. The cooling device's compartment is also equipped with a temperature sensor 310 for real-time detection of the compartment temperature. The cooling device further determines the magnitude of the detected camera 130 temperature and compartment temperature to determine whether the heating component needs to be activated.

[0047] It is understandable that during the operation of refrigeration equipment, situations such as the door of the refrigeration equipment being opened, thermostat malfunction, and dust accumulation on the condenser may occur. These situations will cause the temperature of the refrigeration equipment compartment to rise. This application embodiment does not impose specific limitations.

[0048] In step S102, in response to detecting that the image captured by camera 130 is below the resolution requirement, the heating component is activated.

[0049] In step S102 of some embodiments, when the image captured by the camera 130 is blurry or unclear, it indicates that there is moisture in the lens or light-transmitting part of the camera 130. It is necessary to change the temperature of the camera 130 to avoid condensation in the camera 130 or the light-transmitting part. Specifically, in response to detecting that the image captured by the camera 130 is lower than the clarity requirement, the heating component is activated to raise the temperature of the camera 130, which in turn raises the temperature inside the sealed housing 100 of the camera component, thereby improving the clarity of the captured image, enhancing the image clarity and stability, and thus ensuring the quality of the captured image.

[0050] It is worth noting that, in this embodiment, the heating component can be activated when the temperature of the camera 130 is lower than the room temperature or when the image captured by the camera 130 is lower than the required resolution. That is, the heating component can be activated to raise the temperature of the camera 130 when either step S101 or step S102 is met. Alternatively, the heating component can be activated when the temperature is lower than the room temperature and the image captured by the camera 130 is lower than the required resolution. That is, the heating component can be activated to raise the temperature of the camera 130 when both steps S101 and S102 are met. This embodiment does not impose any specific limitations.

[0051] Reference Figure 5 , Figure 5 The following is a flowchart of a demisting method for a refrigeration device provided in another embodiment of this application. The method includes, but is not limited to, steps S201 to S204.

[0052] In step S201, in response to detecting that the door of the refrigeration equipment is opened, the temperature of the camera 130 and the room temperature are acquired, and the temperature of the camera 130 is compared with the room temperature.

[0053] In step S201 of some embodiments, when the door of the refrigeration equipment is detected to be opened, the temperature of the refrigeration equipment compartment may change. This embodiment of the application needs to obtain the temperature of the camera 130 and the temperature of the compartment to achieve real-time monitoring of the temperature of the camera 130 and the temperature of the compartment, and compare the temperature of the camera 130 with the temperature of the compartment. By monitoring the camera 130 and the temperature of the compartment in real time, the working status of the camera 130 can be adjusted in a timely manner or other measures can be taken to reduce the condensation phenomenon caused by temperature difference.

[0054] Step S202: Obtain the temperature of camera 130 and room temperature according to the first time interval, and compare the temperature of camera 130 with the room temperature.

[0055] In step S202 of some embodiments, the present application embodiments may also acquire the temperature of the camera 130 and the room temperature at a first time interval, for example, acquiring the temperature of the camera 130 and the room temperature every five minutes, every three minutes, or every two minutes, and comparing the temperature of the camera 130 with the room temperature. By comparing the temperature of the camera 130 with the room temperature, it is convenient to take corresponding measures to avoid the risk of condensation or fogging caused by temperature difference, for example, heating or cooling the camera 130 to keep the image clear.

[0056] It is understood that the first time interval in the embodiments of this application can be set according to the user's needs, and the embodiments of this application do not impose specific limitations.

[0057] In step S203, in response to the detection that the door of the refrigeration equipment is opened, the camera 130 is triggered to take a picture, and the image captured by the camera 130 is used for object recognition.

[0058] In step S203 of some embodiments, when the door of the refrigeration equipment is detected to be opened, the temperature of the refrigeration equipment may change. In this embodiment, the camera 130 is directly triggered to take a picture, and the image captured by the camera 130 is used to identify objects, so as to facilitate the subsequent judgment of the image quality of the captured image and adjust the temperature of the camera 130 according to the image quality.

[0059] Understandably, when the image capture is clear, it indicates that the camera 130 and the light-transmitting part are dry and there is no fogging. This means that the temperature of the camera 130 is close to the temperature of the room, and there is no need to activate the heating component. When the image capture is clear, it indicates that there may be fog or water droplets on the surface of the lens and the light-transmitting part of the camera 130. In this case, the heating component needs to be activated to heat the camera 130 and remove the fog.

[0060] It should be noted that in the process of object recognition from images captured by camera 130 in this embodiment, the captured images need to be preprocessed first to improve image quality and reduce the complexity of subsequent processing. Preprocessing steps may include noise reduction, brightness and contrast adjustment, color correction, edge enhancement, etc., to extract object features for recognition from the preprocessed image, such as color, texture, shape, edges, and corners. Specifically, this embodiment can use feature extraction algorithms such as SIFT (Scale-Invariant Feature Transform), SURF (Speeded UpRobust Features), and HOG (Histogram of Oriented Gradients) for feature extraction. The object features are then input into a classification model for classification decisions. The classification model classifies the objects based on the features in the image and outputs the object recognition result.

[0061] It is understood that the classification models in the embodiments of this application include, but are not limited to, decision tree models, random forest models, support vector machine models, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not impose specific limitations.

[0062] Step S204: Trigger the camera 130 to take a picture according to the second time interval, and perform object recognition on the picture captured by the camera 130.

[0063] In step S204 of some embodiments, the present application embodiment may also trigger the camera 130 to take pictures according to a second time interval, for example, triggering the camera 130 to take pictures every five minutes, every three minutes, or every two minutes, and performing object recognition on the pictures taken by the camera 130. By triggering the camera 130 to take pictures according to the second time interval, the operating frequency of the camera 130 can be reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption of the device and reducing storage costs.

[0064] It should be noted that the second time interval in this application embodiment can be set according to the user's needs, and this application embodiment does not impose any specific restrictions.

[0065] Reference Figure 6 , Figure 6 The flowchart of a method for responding to detecting that the image captured by the camera 130 is below the resolution requirement is provided in an embodiment of this application. The method includes, but is not limited to, steps S301 to S302.

[0066] Step S301: Acquire the captured image from camera 130, determine the pixel distribution of the captured image, and perform gradient calculation on the captured image by pixel.

[0067] In step S301 of some embodiments, in response to detecting that the image captured by the camera 130 is below the resolution requirement, this embodiment first acquires the image captured by the camera 130 and analyzes the pixel distribution of the captured image to understand the distribution of pixels with different gray values ​​in the captured image. Then, gradient calculation is performed on the captured image through a gradient function, thereby accurately determining the precise measurement of pixel intensity changes in the captured image and improving the accuracy and robustness of the image analysis algorithm.

[0068] It should be noted that, in the process of gradient calculation for the captured image, this embodiment uses gradient functions, such as the gray-level variance function and the Brenner gradient function, to calculate the gradient of the captured image. Specifically, the gradient function calculates the derivative of the image by convolving with a specific convolution kernel. Gradient calculation typically includes two directions: horizontal and vertical gradients, corresponding to the derivatives in the x and y directions, respectively. The absolute value of the calculated gradient is taken to ensure that the gradient direction is positive, avoiding feature loss due to negative values. Finally, the horizontal and vertical gradients are merged to obtain more comprehensive gradient information. Finally, image analysis, such as edge detection and feature extraction, is performed based on the calculated gradient information. The magnitude and direction of the gradient value can reflect the changes in edges and textures in the image.

[0069] Step S302: If the gradient calculation result of the captured image is less than the sharpness threshold in the sharpness requirement, it is determined that the captured image is below the sharpness requirement, and the heating component is activated.

[0070] In step S302 of some embodiments, if the gradient calculation result of the captured image is less than the sharpness threshold in the sharpness requirement, it means that the image sharpness is lower than the expected standard, indicating that the image may be blurry, resulting in insufficient clarity of its details and edge information. If the captured image is determined to be below the sharpness requirement at this time, it indicates that the lens or light-transmitting part of the camera 130 may experience fogging, requiring the activation of the heating component to increase the temperature of the camera 130 and prevent subsequent image capture from becoming blurry.

[0071] It is worth noting that the sharpness threshold in this application embodiment can be a fixed threshold defined based on experience or standards, or a threshold that can distinguish between sharp and blurry images can be determined by statistical analysis of the gradient calculation results of a large number of image samples. This application embodiment does not impose any specific limitations.

[0072] Reference Figure 7 As shown, Figure 7 The following is a flowchart of a demisting method for a refrigeration device provided in another embodiment of this application. The method includes, but is not limited to, steps S401 to S402.

[0073] It should be noted that steps S401 to S402 occur after the heating component is started.

[0074] In step S401, in response to detecting that the temperature of the camera 130 is higher than the preset safe temperature, the heating component is turned off.

[0075] In step S401 of some embodiments, after the heating component is activated, the temperature of the camera 130 is continuously monitored. When the temperature of the camera 130 is detected to be higher than the preset safe temperature, it indicates that the lens and light-transmitting part of the camera 130 will not fog up in a short time, and the heating of the camera 130 can be stopped. Specifically, in response to the detection that the temperature of the camera 130 is higher than the preset safe temperature, the heating component is turned off, thereby preventing the temperature of the camera 130 from rising continuously, while saving energy and reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

[0076] It should be noted that the preset safe temperature in this application embodiment can be set according to the user's needs or according to the room temperature. The preset safe temperature is higher than the room temperature, thereby ensuring that the lens and light-transmitting part of the camera 130 will not fog up in a short period of time, and ensuring that the surface of the lens and light-transmitting part of the camera 130 remains clean.

[0077] In step S402, in response to detecting that the image captured by the camera 130 meets the clarity requirement and the temperature of the camera 130 is higher than the room temperature, the heating component is turned off.

[0078] In step S402 of some embodiments, after the heating component is activated, this embodiment of the application will continue to detect the temperature of the camera 130 and the room temperature, and will also acquire the images captured by the camera 130. When it is detected that the image captured by the camera 130 meets the clarity requirements, it means that the image captured by the camera 130 is relatively clear, that is, the image clarity without fogging meets the requirements, and it is determined that the imaging performance of the camera 130 is in good condition. When the image captured by the camera 130 meets the clarity requirements and the temperature of the camera 130 is higher than the room temperature, it means that the camera 130 is working at a suitable temperature and there will be no fogging. The heating component can be turned off to improve the energy efficiency of the cooling equipment, while ensuring that the camera 130 can maintain normal operation and ensure the quality of the captured images.

[0079] To further explain the refrigeration equipment, defogging method, controller, and refrigerator provided in this embodiment, specific examples are given below.

[0080] Example 1: Example 1 Figure 1Taking a refrigeration unit as an example, a camera assembly is installed in the compartment of the refrigeration unit. The camera assembly includes a sealed housing 100 and a camera control board 140 connected to a camera 130. The camera control board 140 is disposed inside the sealed housing 100. The sealed housing 100 has a light-transmitting part, and the camera 130 is disposed facing the light-transmitting part. The camera control board 140 is also provided with a heating assembly. The refrigeration unit is used to activate the heating assembly when it detects that the temperature of the camera 130 is lower than the compartment temperature, and / or detects that the image captured by the camera 130 is lower than the clarity requirement.

[0081] Specifically, the following explanation will take a refrigerator as an example of a refrigeration device.

[0082] In some embodiments, the camera 130 is installed inside the refrigerator compartment. The inside of the refrigerator is a humid environment. When the lens or lens of the camera 130 comes into contact with hot air, condensation can easily occur, resulting in unclear photos taken by the camera 130. In severe cases, the photos may not even be recognizable, affecting the photo-taking functions of the refrigerator camera 130.

[0083] In this embodiment, a sealing ring is added between the mounting base and the top cover of the sealed housing 100 of the camera assembly to seal the housing, and a sponge is added to the cable outlet of the base to seal the housing, preventing moisture from entering the camera 130 housing and keeping the inside of the housing dry, thus reducing the source of moisture condensation. Furthermore, the camera control board 140 is installed inside the sealed housing 100. When the electronic components of the camera control board 140 heat up, the temperature inside the sealed housing 100 is higher than the temperature outside the sealed housing 100 under equilibrium conditions, so there is no need for heating and no condensation phenomenon occurs.

[0084] In addition, a heating film is wrapped around the lens of the camera 130, and a temperature sensor 310 is placed on the lens. When the temperature inside the sealed housing 100 is lower than the compartment temperature of the refrigerator, the heating film is activated to heat up. When the temperature inside the sealed housing 100 is higher than the compartment temperature outside the sealed housing 100, the heating is stopped.

[0085] In some embodiments, when the camera 130 captures blurry or unclear images, the heating film is activated to heat up until the temperature inside the sealed housing 100 is higher than a safe temperature or the captured image returns to a normal, clear state. This not only prevents condensation but also removes fog, thus better ensuring the quality of the captured images.

[0086] It is understood that the sealed structure of the camera 130 in this application embodiment is designed to keep the lens of the camera 130 in a relatively dry environment, reducing the possibility of fogging. Furthermore, by using the heat generated by the camera 130 control circuit components inside the sealed housing 100, the opening time of the heating film can be reduced, improving the energy efficiency of the cooling equipment. In addition, a heating component is also configured for active defogging, ensuring that the camera 130 can maintain normal operation and guarantee the quality of the captured images.

[0087] like Figure 8 As shown, Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a controller 1000 provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0088] The controller 1000 in this embodiment includes one or more processors 1001 and a memory 1002. Figure 8 The example uses a processor 1001 and a memory 1002.

[0089] Processor 1001 and memory 1002 can be connected via a bus or other means. Figure 8 Taking the example of a connection between China and Israel via a bus.

[0090] Memory 1002, as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store non-transitory software programs and non-transitory computer-executable programs. Furthermore, memory 1002 may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state storage device. In some embodiments, memory 1002 may optionally include memory 1002 remotely located relative to processor 1001, and these remote memories can be connected to controller 1000 via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0091] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 8 The device structure shown does not constitute a limitation on the controller 1000 and may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0092] This application also provides a refrigerator, including the aforementioned controller 1000.

[0093] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network nodes. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0094] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all or some of the steps and systems in the methods disclosed above can be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and suitable combinations thereof. Some or all of the physical components can be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software can be distributed on a computer-readable medium, which can include computer storage media (or non-transitory media) and communication media (or transient media). As is known to those skilled in the art, the term computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information (such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data). Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disc storage, magnetic cartridges, magnetic tape, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired information and is accessible to a computer. Furthermore, as is known to those skilled in the art, communication media typically contain computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in modulated data signals such as carrier waves or other transmission mechanisms, and may include any information delivery medium.

[0095] It should be understood that in this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, and "more than" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0096] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, instruments, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the instrument embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the shown or discussed mutual couplings, direct couplings, or communication connections may be through some interfaces; indirect couplings or communication connections between instruments or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms. Units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and components shown as units may or may not be physical units, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0097] It should also be understood that the various implementation methods provided in this application can be combined arbitrarily to achieve different technical effects.

[0098] The above is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this application. However, this application is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of this application. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A refrigeration device, characterized in that, A camera assembly is installed in the compartment of the refrigeration equipment. The camera assembly includes a sealed housing and a camera control board connected to a camera. The camera control board is disposed inside the sealed housing. The sealed housing has a light-transmitting part, and the camera is positioned facing the light-transmitting part. The camera control board is also equipped with a heating component. The cooling device is used to activate the heating component when the temperature of the camera is detected to be lower than the room temperature, and / or when the image captured by the camera is detected to be lower than the resolution requirement.

2. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating component is a heating film, which is attached to at least a portion of the housing of the camera.

3. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealed housing includes a first cover and a second cover. The first cover has a wire outlet hole, and the second cover has a light-transmitting part. The external wiring of the camera control board is connected to the main control board of the refrigeration equipment through the wire outlet hole, and a sealing element is provided at the wire outlet hole.

4. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, The light-transmitting part is a lens module, which includes a concave surface and a convex surface. The concave surface is located close to the camera, and the convex surface protrudes from the surface of the sealed housing.

5. A method for defogging, characterized in that, The demisting method, applied to any one of the refrigeration devices as described in claims 1 to 4, comprises: The heating assembly is activated in response to the detection that the temperature of the camera is lower than the room temperature. And / or, in response to detecting that the image captured by the camera is below the required resolution, the heating component is activated.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The method further includes at least one of the following: In response to detecting that the door of the refrigeration equipment is opened, the temperature of the camera and the temperature of the room are acquired, and the temperature of the camera is compared with the temperature of the room; The temperature of the camera and the temperature of the room are acquired at a first time interval, and the temperature of the camera is compared with the temperature of the room. In response to the detection that the door of the refrigeration equipment is opened, the camera is triggered to take a picture, and the image captured by the camera is used for object recognition; The camera is triggered to take pictures according to the second time interval, and the captured images are used for object recognition.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The step of activating the heating component in response to detecting that the image captured by the camera is below the required resolution includes: Acquire images captured by the camera, determine the pixel distribution of the captured images, and perform gradient calculation on the captured images pixel by pixel; If the gradient calculation result of the captured image is less than the sharpness threshold in the sharpness requirement, it is determined that the captured image is below the sharpness requirement, and the heating component is activated.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, After activating the heating assembly, the method further includes: In response to the detection that the temperature of the camera is higher than a preset safe temperature, the heating component is turned off; And / or, in response to detecting that the image captured by the camera meets the required clarity and that the temperature of the camera is higher than the room temperature, the heating component is turned off.

9. A controller, characterized in that, It includes at least one processor and a memory for communicatively connecting with said at least one processor; The memory stores instructions that can be executed by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the method as described in any one of claims 5 to 8.

10. A refrigerator comprising the controller of claim 9.

Images