Refrigerators and storage containers

Abstract

A refrigerator according to the present invention includes a heat insulation box body that has a storage chamber formed therein, a door opening / closing sensor that detects the opening / closing state of a door of the storage chamber, a storage container that accommodates stored objects, a power reception–side antenna coil that is provided to the storage container, a power supply–side antennal coil that is provided to the door or the storage chamber and, when an opening / closing operation of the door is detected by the door opening / closing sensor, wirelessly supplies power to the power reception–side antenna coil, a detection sensor that, when power is supplied from the power reception–side antenna coil, detects stored objects and outputs detection results, a sensor communication unit that, when detection results are inputted from the detection sensor, wirelessly transmits the detection results to the power supply–side antenna coil via the power reception–side antenna coil, and a control device that receives the detection results via the power supply–side antenna coil. The abovementioned configuration makes it possible for a user to easily remove the storage container.

Description

Refrigerators, refrigeration systems and storage containers

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to refrigerators, refrigeration systems and storage containers for preserving stored goods.

[0002] Typically, to check the inventory or remaining amount of food stored in a refrigerator, a user opens the door of the storage compartment where the food is stored and visually checks the inventory or remaining amount of food, but this task is burdensome for the user. The checking task is particularly burdensome for stored items such as beverages that are not consumed in a single use but rather over multiple uses. For example, some beverages, such as milk, are often sold in paper containers. Paper containers are not only opaque, but also have almost no change in shape even when the remaining amount changes. Therefore, it is difficult for a user to determine the remaining amount of beverage by looking at the paper container, and they must lift the paper container by hand and estimate the remaining amount based on the weight of the beverage. In this case, the user must lift the paper container by hand, which makes the checking task more burdensome than if they were to rely solely on vision.

[0003] Conventionally, a refrigerator has been proposed for storing eggs, one of the foods to be stored, which measures the weight of the stored eggs, calculates the total number of eggs based on the measured weight, and if the total number is less than a set number, sends change notification information to a terminal device via a telecommunications line (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] The refrigerator door pocket disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with an egg storage holder with multiple egg holders for individually storing eggs. Each egg holder has a weight detection unit at its bottom that measures the weight of the egg and outputs a signal based on the weight to the refrigerator's control unit. The gravity detection unit includes a pair of electrode plates whose opposing distance changes depending on the weight of the egg, and an oscillation circuit that oscillates at a frequency corresponding to the change in capacitance caused by the change in the opposing electrode plate distance.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-113818

[0006] In the refrigerator of Patent Document 1, when power is supplied to the weight detection unit via a wire from a power supply unit provided in the refrigerator body, the wire is routed from the power supply unit to the egg storage holder in the door pocket. Because the wire is connected to the egg storage holder, it is difficult for the user to remove the egg storage holder from the door pocket. For example, if an egg breaks in the egg storage holder, food stains may adhere to the egg storage holder. In this case, even if the user wants to remove the egg storage holder from the door pocket to clean it, it is difficult to remove the egg storage holder from the door pocket because the wire remains connected to the egg storage holder.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a refrigerator, a refrigeration system, and a storage container that allows a user to easily remove a storage container equipped with an electrical component that detects stored items from the refrigerator.

[0008] a power supplying-side antenna coil provided in the door or the storage compartment and configured to wirelessly supply power to the power receiving-side antenna coil when the door opening / closing sensor detects an opening or closing of the door; a detection sensor provided in the storage container and configured to detect the stored items and output a detection result when power is supplied from the power receiving-side antenna coil; a sensor communication unit provided in the storage container and configured to wirelessly transmit the detection result to the power supplying-side antenna coil via the power receiving-side antenna coil when the detection result is input from the detection sensor; and a control device that receives the detection result via the power supplying-side antenna coil.

[0009] a power supplying-side antenna coil provided in the door or the storage compartment and configured to wirelessly supply power to the power receiving-side antenna coil when the door opening / closing sensor detects an opening or closing of the door; a detection sensor provided in the storage container and configured to detect the stored items and output a detection result when power is supplied from the power receiving-side antenna coil; a sensor communication unit provided in the storage container and configured to wirelessly transmit the detection result to the power supplying-side antenna coil via the power receiving-side antenna coil when the detection result is input from the detection sensor; and a control device that receives the detection result via the power supplying-side antenna coil.

[0010] A storage container according to the present disclosure is a storage container that stores stored items and is housed in a refrigerator, and includes: a power-receiving-side antenna coil that receives power wirelessly from a power-feeding-side antenna coil provided in the refrigerator; a detection sensor that is electrically connected to the power-receiving-side antenna coil and detects the stored items and outputs the detection result when power is supplied from the power-receiving-side antenna coil; and a sensor communication unit that is electrically connected to the power-receiving-side antenna coil and the detection sensor and that, when the detection result is input from the detection sensor, wirelessly transmits the detection result to the power-feeding-side antenna coil via the power-receiving-side antenna coil.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, power is wirelessly supplied from a power supply antenna coil provided on a door or a side wall of a storage compartment to a power receiving antenna coil provided on a storage container that stores stored items. Therefore, there is no need to connect a detection sensor provided on the storage container that detects the stored items to the refrigerator power supply unit with wiring. As a result, a user can easily remove the storage container from the refrigerator.

[0012] 12 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a refrigeration system 100 according to embodiment 1. It is a front view of a refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 1. It is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 2. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 2 taken along line A-A in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a stored item detection device 50 in the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 1. It is an external perspective view showing an example of a configuration of the stored item detection device 50 shown in FIG. 5. It is a functional block diagram showing an example of a configuration of the control device 30 shown in FIG. 4. It is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 3 when the refrigerator compartment door 15R is opened to view the inside of the refrigerator compartment door 15R. It is an enlarged perspective view showing an example of a configuration in which the stored item detection device 50 is provided in the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator compartment door 15R shown in FIG. 8. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 8 cut horizontally along line B-B. It is an enlarged view of a portion of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 10 where the stored item detection device 50 is provided. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram taken along line C-C in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the area within the dashed line frame shown in FIG. 12. 11 is a layout diagram of the installation section 76 when the distance Lx shown in FIG. 11 is set to zero. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing another configuration example when the door pocket 35 in the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 4 is cut horizontally. It is an enlarged perspective view of the portion of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 15 where the stored item detection device 50 is provided. It is an enlarged view of the portion of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 15 where the stored item detection device 50 is provided. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram taken along line D-D in FIG. 15. It is a perspective view of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 15 when removed from the refrigerator compartment door 15R and viewed from the refrigerator compartment door 15R side. It is a perspective view showing the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 19 with the lid portion 35-2 attached. It is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 3 when the refrigerator compartment door 15R is opened and the inside of the refrigerator compartment door 15R on which the storage container 40 is placed is viewed. It is an enlarged perspective view of the storage container 40 placed in the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 21 when cut horizontally along line E-E. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a beverage holder for the storage container 40 according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another example of a beverage holder for the storage container 40 according to embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an egg storage holder for the storage container 40 according to embodiment 1.It is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing device 300 shown in Fig. 1. It is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing terminal 200 shown in Fig. 1. It is a flowchart showing an example of the operation procedure of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0013] Embodiments of a refrigerator, refrigeration system, and storage container according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below. Furthermore, the size of each component and the relationships between components in the drawings may differ from those in reality. For ease of explanation, some of the drawings show three axes, the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis, which define directions in three-dimensional space. In FIGS. 2 to 4, the direction opposite the Y-axis arrow indicates the front side of the refrigerator, and the direction opposite the Y-axis arrow indicates the rear side of the refrigerator. In FIGS. 2 to 4 and 8 to 23, the direction opposite the Z-axis arrow indicates the direction of gravity.

[0014] Embodiment 1. The configuration of a refrigeration system according to Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a refrigeration system 100 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigeration system 100 includes a refrigerator 1 and an external device such as an information processing terminal 200 or an information processing device 300. The refrigerator 1 is communicatively connected to the information processing terminal 200 and the information processing device 300 via a network NW. The network NW is, for example, the Internet.

[0015] The information processing terminal 200 is an information processing device operated by the user of the refrigerator 1. The number of information processing terminals 200 is not limited to one, and may be multiple. The information processing terminal 200 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The information processing device 300 is an example of an external device, and is a computer such as a server. The information processing device 300 is, for example, a computer that provides cloud computing services. The refrigerator 1 may be connected to the network NW via communication equipment (not shown), such as a router or a gateway.

[0016] (Configuration of refrigerator 1) The configuration of refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. Fig. 2 is a front view of refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of refrigerator 1 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of refrigerator 1 shown in Fig. 2 taken along line A-A in Fig. 2.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 4, refrigerator 1 includes an insulated box 2, which is the refrigerator body, with an open front 2a and a storage space 6 formed inside. Insulated box 2 is composed of an outer box 3 made of steel plate that forms the outer shell, an inner box 4 made of thin-walled hard resin that is placed inside outer box 3, and a heat insulating material 5 filled between outer box 3 and inner box 4. The thin-walled hard resin is, for example, ABS resin. The heat insulating material 5 is, for example, hard urethane foam.

[0018] The storage space 6 formed inside the insulated box 2 is divided into multiple storage compartments by multiple partition members 7a-7c for storing stored items. The stored items are items stored in the storage compartments, such as solid food and beverages. The stored items include rice, seasonings, and ice. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the refrigerator 1 has multiple storage compartments: a refrigerator compartment 10, an ice-making compartment 11, a switchable compartment 12, a vegetable compartment 13, and a freezer compartment 14. The refrigerator compartment 10 is located at the top of the multiple storage compartments. The ice-making compartment 11 and the switchable compartment 12 are located below the refrigerator compartment 10. The ice-making compartment 11 and the switchable compartment 12 are located horizontally adjacent to each other. The vegetable compartment 13 is located below the switchable compartment 12 and the ice-making compartment 11. The freezer compartment 14 is located below the vegetable compartment 13 and at the bottom of the multiple storage compartments.

[0019] The refrigerator compartment 10 is set to a refrigeration temperature range (e.g., approximately 3°C). The switchable compartment 12 is a storage compartment whose set temperature range can be switched by the user. The switchable compartment 12 is set to, for example, a freezing temperature range (e.g., approximately -18°C) or a soft freezing temperature range (e.g., approximately -7°C). The ice making compartment 11 is set to a freezing temperature range (e.g., approximately -18°C). The vegetable compartment 13 is set to a refrigeration temperature range (e.g., approximately 6°C). The freezer compartment 14 is set to a freezing temperature range (approximately -18°C). The soft freezing temperature range may be a temperature range between -4°C and -10°C. The arrangement of the storage compartments is not limited to the arrangement shown in Figures 2 to 4 and may be an arrangement other than that shown in Figures 2 to 4. Furthermore, the number of storage compartments is not limited to five as described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. The number of storage compartments may be more or less than five.

[0020] An opening 10a formed in the front of the refrigerator compartment 10 is provided with a double-door refrigerator compartment door 15 that opens and closes the opening 10a. The refrigerator compartment door 15 is made up of a left refrigerator compartment door 15L and a right refrigerator compartment door 15R. An operation panel 20 and a communication unit 45 are provided on the front side of the refrigerator compartment door 15L. While FIG. 3 shows a case where the communication unit 45 is provided on the refrigerator compartment door 15, the position of the communication unit 45 does not have to be on the front side of the refrigerator 1. The communication unit 45 may be provided, for example, on the upper surface of the refrigerator compartment door 15. Furthermore, the communication unit 45 may be provided between the hinges 42 that support the refrigerator compartment doors 15R and 15L so that they can be opened and closed, and the resin cover 42a that covers the hinges 42.

[0021] Operation panel 20 is an input interface that allows the user to input instructions such as temperature settings for each storage compartment. Communication unit 45 provides a function that allows refrigerator 1 to communicate with information processing terminal 200 and information processing device 300. Opening 11a formed in the front of ice making compartment 11 is provided with a drawer-type ice making compartment door 16 that opens and closes opening 11a. Opening 12a formed in the front of switchable compartment 12 is provided with a drawer-type switchable compartment door 17 that opens and closes opening 12a. Opening 13a formed in the front of vegetable compartment 13 is provided with a drawer-type vegetable compartment door 18 that opens and closes opening 13a. Opening 14a formed in the front of freezer compartment 14 is provided with a drawer-type freezer compartment door 19 that opens and closes opening 14a.

[0022] A compressor 29 is provided at the bottom of the rear side of the outer box 3, between the insulating material 5 and the outer box 3. A cooling chamber 21 housing a cooler 24 is formed on the rear side 2b of the insulated box 2. The cooling chamber 21 is separated from each storage chamber by a rear panel 22. In addition to the cooler 24, the cooling chamber 21 is also provided with a blower 23 and other components. The compressor 29, a radiator (not shown), a pressure reduction device (not shown) such as a capillary tube, and the cooler 24 are connected via refrigerant piping to form a refrigerant circuit (not shown) through which the refrigerant circulates. Each storage chamber is connected to the cooling chamber 21 via an air passage 25. The blower 23 sends cold air cooled by the cooler 24 from the cooling chamber 21 to each storage chamber via the air passage 25, thereby cooling the air in each storage chamber. A damper device 26 for the refrigerator compartment 10 is provided in the air passage 25. The damper device 26 serves to adjust the cool air flowing from the cooling compartment 21 into the refrigerator compartment 10 via the air passage 25 .

[0023] A control device 30 is provided between the heat insulating material 5 and the outer case 3 at an upper portion on the rear surface 2b side of the outer case 3. The control device 30 controls the operation of the refrigerator 1. The control device 30 is communicatively connected to the compressor 29, the damper device 26, and the blower 23 via signal lines (not shown). The control device 30 is communicatively connected to the operation panel 20 via a signal line 47. The control device 30 is communicatively connected to the communication unit 45 via signal lines 46 and 47. The configurations of the communication unit 45 and the control device 30 will be described later.

[0024] Each storage compartment is provided with temperature sensors 27a to 27e that detect the temperature of the corresponding storage compartment. Temperature sensor 27a detects the temperature of refrigerator compartment 10. Temperature sensor 27b detects the temperature of ice-making compartment 11. Temperature sensor 27c detects the temperature of switchable compartment 12. Temperature sensor 27d detects the temperature of vegetable compartment 13. Temperature sensor 27e detects the temperature of freezer compartment 14. Temperature sensors 27a to 27e are, for example, thermistors. Each of temperature sensors 27a to 27e is communicatively connected to control device 30 via a signal line (not shown). Each of temperature sensors 27a to 27e transmits its detected value to control device 30.

[0025] The refrigerator compartment door 15 is provided with a door open / close sensor 36 that detects the open / closed state of the refrigerator compartment door 15. The door open / close sensor 36 is communicatively connected to the control device 30 via a signal line (not shown). The door open / close sensor 36 transmits a door state signal that indicates the open or closed state of the refrigerator compartment door 15 to the control device 30. A door state signal that indicates that the refrigerator compartment door 15 is open is referred to as an open state signal. A door state signal that indicates that the refrigerator compartment door 15 is closed is referred to as a closed state signal.

[0026] In the present embodiment 1, the case where door open / close sensor 36 is provided on refrigerator compartment door 15 will be described, but door open / close sensor 36 may also be provided on each of ice-making compartment door 16, switchable compartment door 17, vegetable compartment door 18, and freezer compartment door 19. In this case, the location where door open / close sensor 36 is installed is not limited to each door, and may be the refrigerator body or partition members 7a to 7c.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4 , a storage container 40 is provided in the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator compartment door 15R. The storage container 40 is a container housed in the refrigerator 1 and stores stored items including foodstuffs such as eggs and beverages such as milk. Alternatively, the storage container 40 may be provided around the inner box 4 that forms the interior side of each storage compartment. FIG. 4 shows a case in which the storage container 40 is provided on a shelf 41 inside the refrigerator compartment 10 in addition to the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator compartment door 15R. The storage container 40 arranged in the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator compartment door 15R is disposed so as to contact the back panel 15a of the refrigerator compartment door 15R. As shown in FIG. 4 , the back panel 15a faces the refrigerator compartment 10 when the refrigerator compartment door 15R is closed. Also, as shown in FIG. 4 , a power supply antenna coil 38 is provided inside the back panel 15a of the refrigerator compartment door 15R. The power supply antenna coil 38 is connected to the control device 30 via wiring 59.

[0028] 4 shows a configuration in which the power supplying antenna coil 38 is provided inside the back panel 15a of the refrigerator compartment door 15R, but the power supplying antenna coil 38 may also be provided on a side wall of the refrigerator compartment 10. Below, a case in which the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator compartment door 15R functions as the storage container 40 and a case in which the storage container 40 is provided in the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator compartment door 15R will be described, but the installation location of the storage container 40 is not limited to the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator compartment door 15R.

[0029] (Stored Item Detection Device 50) Before describing the configuration of the storage container 40, the configuration of the stored item detection device 50 provided in the storage container 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the stored item detection device 50 in the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing an example configuration of the stored item detection device 50 shown in FIG. 5. The stored item detection device 50 is provided inside the storage container 40. The stored item detection device 50 determines the presence or absence of stored items in the storage container 40. The stored item detection device 50 has a sensor control unit 51, multiple detection sensors 53, and a power receiving antenna coil 56. The sensor control unit 51 is connected to the power receiving antenna coil 56 via wiring 81. The sensor control unit 51 is connected for communication with the four detection sensors 53 via signal lines.

[0030] The storage item detection device 50 may detect the weight of the storage item contained in the storage container 40. In the first embodiment, the detection sensor 53 is a weight sensor. Although the description will be given for a case in which there are four detection sensors 53 as shown in FIG. 6, the number of detection sensors 53 is not limited to four. The number of detection sensors 53 may be one or a number other than four.

[0031] The power receiving antenna coil 56 serves as a coil that generates an electromotive force by electromagnetic induction in response to the magnetic field generated in the power supplying antenna coil 38, and as an antenna that wirelessly transmits information to the power supplying antenna coil 38. The power receiving antenna coil 56 is an antenna coil with N turns. The number of turns N may be any number, as long as it is plural. The planar shape of the power receiving antenna coil 56 is, for example, a shape that follows the outer shape of the configuration to which the power receiving antenna coil 56 is attached, and is rectangular, elliptical, or circular. An example of a method for manufacturing the power receiving antenna coil 56 will be described. After a metal layer is formed on one side of a resin film such as PET, the metal layer is etched to form a coil-shaped antenna pattern. In this manner, the power receiving antenna coil 56 is manufactured.

[0032] The sensor control unit 51 has a sensor power supply unit 55 and a sensor communication unit 54. The sensor communication unit 54 has a processor 57 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory 52 such as a non-volatile memory. The sensor control unit 51 is formed, for example, by a single semiconductor chip.

[0033] The sensor power supply unit 55 is electrically connected to the power receiving antenna coil 56 via wiring 81. The sensor power supply unit 55 rectifies a current generated by an electromotive force generated in the power receiving antenna coil 56 and supplies power to each component. The sensor power supply unit 55 includes a rectifier circuit (not shown) that converts AC voltage to DC voltage and a capacitor (not shown) that temporarily stores the electromotive force generated by electromagnetic induction. In FIG. 5 , the wiring that supplies power from the sensor power supply unit 55 to the four detection sensors 53 and the sensor communication unit 54 is schematically shown by dashed lines. However, power may also be supplied from the sensor power supply unit 55 to the four detection sensors 53 via the sensor communication unit 54. In this case, the sensor power supply unit 55 may be provided in the sensor communication unit 54.

[0034] The detection sensor 53 has a metal film on which the object to be measured is placed and a strain gauge attached to the metal film. The detection sensor 53 detects the weight of the object to be measured by measuring a change in resistance value due to deformation of the strain gauge that occurs when stress is applied to the metal film. In the first embodiment, the detection sensor 53 is described as a strain gauge type sensor, but it may also be a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element has a configuration in which a dielectric is sandwiched between two electrodes, and measures the voltage generated when the dielectric is deformed by a force applied to the electrodes, thereby measuring the weight of the object to be measured.

[0035] 6 shows a virtual case in which a rectangular plate 49 is placed on four detection sensors 53. When a stored item such as food is placed on the plate 49, the four detection sensors 53 detect the weight of the stored item and output an index value of the resistance or voltage value corresponding to the weight of the stored item to the sensor communication unit 54. The planar area of ​​the plate 49 corresponds to a measurement area, which will be described later.

[0036] The memory 52 is, for example, a non-volatile memory, but may have a volatile area as part of its storage area. The memory 52 stores a control program executed by the processor 57, data used in the arithmetic processing executed by the processor 57, and the results of the arithmetic processing. The memory 52 also stores setting data preset in the stored item detection device 50, a detection device ID which is identification information for the stored item detection device 50, a sensor ID which is identification information for each detection sensor 53, detection values ​​(weight values ​​of stored items) of each detection sensor 53, and various other data.

[0037] The processor 57 reads out from the memory 52 a control program stored in the memory 52 and executes it. When the processor 57 receives an index value from each of the four detection sensors 53, it converts each index value into a weight value using a predetermined formula. The processor 57 generates detection information including sensor information indicating the detection value of each detection sensor 53 and a detection device ID corresponding to the sensor ID of each detection sensor 53. When the sensor communication unit 54 generates the detection information, it transmits the detection information to the power supply side antenna coil 38 via the power receiving side antenna coil 56.

[0038] In the first embodiment, the power receiving antenna coil 56 generates an electromotive force by electromagnetic induction. However, the electromotive force may be generated by electromagnetic resonance. The sensor power supply unit 55 may include a rechargeable battery (not shown) in addition to a capacitor (not shown) to temporarily store power. In this case, the sensor power supply unit 55 functions as a storage battery. In the first embodiment, the detection sensor 53 is a weight sensor. However, the detection sensor 53 is not limited to a weight sensor. The detection sensor 53 may also be a sensor that detects the presence or absence of stored items. The sensor that detects the presence or absence of stored items may be, for example, a combination of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and an illuminance sensor, or may be an illuminance sensor alone.

[0039] (Control device 30) Next, the configuration of the control device 30 will be described. Fig. 7 is a functional block diagram showing an example configuration of the control device 30 shown in Fig. 4. The control device 30 is, for example, a microcomputer. The control device 30 has a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a power supply control unit 33, and a timer 37 that measures time. The storage unit 32, the power supply control unit 33, and the timer 37 may be mounted on the same board as the board on which the control unit 31 is mounted, or may be mounted on a board different from the board on which the control unit 31 is mounted.

[0040] Before describing the configuration of the control device 30 in detail, the configuration of the communication unit 45 shown in Figs. 3 and 7 will be described. The communication unit 45 has two communication units, a communication unit 45a and a communication unit 45b. The communication unit 45a has a function of communicating with the information processing terminal 200. The communication unit 45a communicates with the information processing terminal 200 wirelessly in accordance with a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The communication unit 45b has a function of communicating with the information processing device 300 via the network NW. The communication unit 45b communicates with the information processing device 300 in accordance with a communication standard such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). If a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) that complies with a communication standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) is provided in the room where refrigerator 1 is installed, communication unit 45b may be connected to network NW via a wireless router (not shown).

[0041] The configuration of each part of the control device 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 7 . The timer 37 notifies the control device 30 of the time when the weight value of the stored item in the storage container 40 is detected and the time the stored item has been stored in each storage compartment and the storage container 40. The power supply control unit 33 supplies the stored item detection device 50 with the power required to operate the stored item detection device 50 under the control of the control unit 31. Specifically, upon receiving a power supply instruction from the control unit 31, the power supply control unit 33 converts the direct current supplied from a power supply unit (not shown) of the refrigerator 1 into alternating current of a predetermined frequency and supplies the converted alternating current to the power supplying antenna coil 38 via the wiring 59. The power supplying antenna coil 38 serves as a coil that generates a magnetic field that induces power in the power receiving antenna coil 56 and as an antenna that receives information wirelessly transmitted from the power receiving antenna coil 56.

[0042] The storage unit 32 is a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage unit 32 has a volatile memory area such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) in part of its storage area. The storage unit 32 stores the control program executed by the control unit 31, data used in the arithmetic processing executed by the control unit 31, and the results of the arithmetic processing. The storage unit 32 stores a refrigerator ID, which is identification information for the refrigerator 1.

[0043] The control unit 31 is a processor such as a CPU, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, or a microprocessor. The control unit 31 reads and executes a control program stored in the storage unit 32 to control the temperature control means of the refrigerator 1. The temperature control means includes the damper device 26, the compressor 29, and the blower 23. Specifically, the control unit 31 controls the opening degree of the damper device 26, the operating frequency of the compressor 29, and the rotation speed of the blower 23 based on the temperatures detected by the temperature sensors 27a to 27e so that the air in each storage compartment is maintained at a set temperature.

[0044] Furthermore, when the control unit 31 receives an open state signal from the door open / close sensor 36 and then receives a closed state signal, it instructs the power supply control unit 33 to energize the power supply side antenna coil 38 in order to supply power to the stored item detection device 50. When the control unit 31 receives detection information from the stored item detection device 50 via the power supply side antenna coil 38, it refers to the measurement time of the timer 37 and identifies the time when the weight value of the stored item was measured. The control unit 31 transmits stored item status data including information on the weight value of the stored item and the time when the weight value of the stored item was measured to the information processing terminal 200 via the communication unit 45a or to the information processing device 300 via the communication unit 45b.

[0045] Furthermore, the control unit 31 may determine a ratio Rs of the weight value received from the detection sensor 53 to a reference value for the stored item. The reference value is a predetermined weight value for the stored item or an initial weight value of the stored item. The memory unit 32 stores the reference value. The control unit 31 transmits stored item ratio data, including the determined ratio Rs and information on the time when the weight value of the stored item was measured, to the information processing terminal 200 via the communication unit 45a, or to the information processing device 300 via the communication unit 45b. Furthermore, the control unit 31 may display information on the weight value of the stored item or the ratio Rs of the weight value on a display unit (not shown) of the operation panel 20.

[0046] Note that if the information processing terminal 200 communicates with the communication unit 45b via a wireless LAN or the network NW, the communication unit 45 does not need to include the communication unit 45a. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when the stored item detection device 50 receives power, the sensor communication unit 54 automatically calculates the weight value from the detection values ​​of the detection sensors 53 in accordance with a program, but this is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 31 may transmit a command signal to the power receiving antenna coil 56 via the power supply antenna coil 38, instructing the stored item detection device 50 to measure the weight value of the stored item. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the sensor communication unit 54 calculates the index values ​​received from the detection sensors 53 to calculate the weight value, but this calculation may be performed by the control unit 31.

[0047] (Storage Container 40) The configuration of the storage container 40 will be described. The stored item detection device 50 described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 is provided inside the storage container 40. As described with reference to Fig. 4, the refrigerator 1 includes the storage container 40 that can be attached and detached by the user along the back panel 15a of the refrigerator compartment door 15 or on a shelf 41 inside the refrigerator compartment 10.

[0048] Here, the case where the storage container 40 is provided in the refrigerator 1 as one component thereof will be described, but the storage container 40 may also be a separate item that can be attached to the refrigerator 1 after installation. The storage container 40 may be separate from the door pocket 35, or the door pocket 35 may be used as the storage container 40, and multiple types of storage containers 40 are possible. Of the multiple types of storage containers 40, a case where the door pocket 35 is used as the storage container 40 will first be described with reference to Figures 8 to 13. The following describes a case where the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator compartment door 15R functions as the storage container 40, but the same applies to a case where the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator compartment door 15L functions as the storage container 40, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0049] 8 to 13 are views of the inside of the refrigerator compartment door 15R shown in FIG. 2 when the refrigerator compartment door 15R is open so that the outer surface parallel to the XZ plane becomes parallel to the YZ plane. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 3 when the refrigerator compartment door 15R is open and the inside of the refrigerator compartment door 15R is viewed. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing an example of a configuration in which a stored item detection device 50 is provided in the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator compartment door 15R shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 8 cut horizontally along line B-B. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the portion of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 10 where the stored item detection device 50 is provided. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 10. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the area within the dashed line frame shown in FIG. 12.

[0050] A pair of ribs 34a and 34b are provided on two vertical sides of the back panel 15a of the refrigerator compartment door 15R shown in Fig. 10, which is approximately parallel to the YZ plane. The pair of ribs 34a and 34b protrude in opposite directions of the X-axis arrow in Fig. 10 and face each other. When the refrigerator compartment door 15R is closed (see Fig. 2), the pair of ribs 34a and 34b protrude toward the rear side of the refrigerator 1. The back panel 15a, which is approximately parallel to the YZ plane and has the pair of ribs 34a and 34b, is produced by processing a single resin inner panel.

[0051] As shown in Figure 8, two small item door pockets 48 are provided on the upper side of the back panel 15a of the refrigerator compartment door 15R. The small item door pockets 48 are storage containers for storing small items such as seasoning tubes. The small item door pockets 48 are configured to be attachable and detachable. A door pocket 35 is provided on the lower side of the back panel 15a of the refrigerator compartment door 15R. The door pocket 35 is a storage container for storing various types of PET bottles and milk cartons. The door pocket 35 is configured to be attachable and detachable.

[0052] The door pocket 35 is detachably mounted between a rib 34a on the left side and a rib 34b on the right side of the back panel 15a of the refrigerator compartment door 15R. The stored item detection device 50 described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 is mounted inside the door pocket 35. This allows the user to understand the trend of beverage decrease over time based on changes in the weight of the beverage stored in the door pocket 35. The stored item detection device 50 may be mounted not only in the door pocket 35 but also in the small item door pocket 48. In this case, it is possible to determine whether or not food is stored in the small item door pocket 48.

[0053] The arrangement of the power supply side antenna coil 38 on the refrigerator compartment door 15R will be described. In the first embodiment, the power supply side antenna coil 38 is described as having a square shape, but the planar shape of the power supply side antenna coil 38 may be rectangular, elliptical, or circular. Of the four sides of the square power supply side antenna coil 38, two sides are parallel to the Y axis and the remaining two sides are parallel to the Z axis.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 10 , an antenna coil mounting portion 77 is provided on the rear side of the back plate 15 a, forming a space for mounting the power supply side antenna coil 38. The antenna coil mounting portion 77 has a pair of protrusions 77 a and 77 b. The pair of protrusions 77 a protrude in the direction of the X-axis arrow in FIG. 11 . The protrusion 77 b also protrudes in the direction of the X-axis arrow as shown in FIG. 12 . The length (height) of the pair of protrusions 77 a and 77 b in the X-axis arrow direction ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) is approximately 5 mm. The pair of protrusions 77 a extend parallel to the Z-axis in FIG. 11 . The protrusion 77 b extends parallel to the Y-axis in FIG. 12 . The length of the protrusion 77 b in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 12 is the length of the power supply side antenna coil 38 in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 12 plus a predetermined margin.

[0055] The power supply-side antenna coil 38 is attached in a space surrounded by the pair of protrusions 77a and 77b of the antenna coil attachment portion 77. The antenna coil attachment portion 77 serves to indicate the attachment position of the power supply-side antenna coil 38 to an operator when assembling the refrigerator compartment door 15 of the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the vacuum insulation material 78 contacts the tips of the pair of protrusions 77a of the antenna coil attachment portion 77. In other words, the antenna coil attachment portion 77 contacts the vacuum insulation material 78 and regulates the placement of the vacuum insulation material 78 inside the door. This configuration ensures a space surrounded by the pair of protrusions 77a and 77b. When an operator attaches the vacuum insulation material 78 after attaching the power supply-side antenna coil 38 to the refrigerator compartment door 15, the antenna coil attachment portion 77 also serves to prevent the power supply-side antenna coil 38 from coming into contact with the vacuum insulation material 78 and becoming misaligned. Furthermore, after the worker attaches the vacuum insulation material 78 to the refrigerator compartment door 15, when the worker injects urethane foam (not shown) into the gap inside the refrigerator compartment door 15, the urethane foam can be prevented from coming into contact with the power supply side antenna coil 38.

[0056] Although not shown, the tips of the pair of protrusions 77a and 77b of the antenna coil mounting portion 77 are spherically shaped to prevent damage to the film of the vacuum insulation material 78. Alternatively, the vacuum insulation material 78 may be folded and attached to the back panel 15a so as to surround the antenna coil mounting portion 77. In this case, providing the antenna coil mounting portion 77 does not limit the placement of the vacuum insulation material 70. With this configuration, when an operator injects urethane foam (not shown) into the gap inside the refrigerator compartment door 15, contact between the urethane foam and the power supply-side antenna coil 38 is suppressed, thereby preventing the power supply-side antenna coil 38 from peeling off from the back panel 15a.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 8, the power supply-side antenna coil 38 is electrically connected to a wiring 59. The wiring 59 extends from the power supply-side antenna coil 38 inside the refrigerator compartment door 15R in the direction of the Z-axis arrow in Fig. 8, and then reaches the hinge opening 43 to which the hinge 42 of the refrigerator compartment door 15 is attached. The pair of protrusions 77a also extend parallel to the Z-axis, thereby preventing the wiring 59 from coming into contact with urethane foam (not shown). After reaching the hinge opening 43, the wiring 59 extends from the hinge opening 43 to the ceiling portion of the insulated box 2 as shown in Fig. 4, and is connected to the control device 30 via the inside of the ceiling portion.

[0058] Next, the arrangement of each part of the stored item detection device 50 in the door pocket 35 will be described. First, the position of the power receiving antenna coil 56 relative to the power supply antenna coil 38 will be described. As shown in Fig. 10, when the door pocket 35 is attached to the refrigerator compartment door 15R, a side wall portion 35a1, which is a part of the side wall portion 35a that surrounds the side surface of the storage space of the door pocket 35, is positioned opposite the back panel 15a. As shown in Fig. 11, a first mounting space 71 is formed inside the side wall portion 35a1. The power receiving antenna coil 56 is provided in the first mounting space 71.

[0059] The power-receiving-side antenna coil 56 is provided inside the side wall 35a1 of the door pocket 35 so that the power-feeding-side antenna coil 38 and the power-receiving-side antenna coil 56 overlap in the front-to-rear direction (the X-axis direction in FIG. 11 ) when viewing the refrigerator compartment door 15R from the front. In the case of wireless power transfer using the electromagnetic induction method or the electromagnetic coupling method, the power-receiving-side antenna coil 56 is installed so that the distance between the power-feeding-side antenna coil 38 and the power-receiving-side antenna coil 56 is within 1 cm. For example, if the thickness of the side wall 35a1 is 6 mm, the distance between the side wall 35a1 and the back panel 15a is 1 mm, and the thickness of the back panel 15a is 1 mm, the distance between the power-feeding-side antenna coil 38 and the power-receiving-side antenna coil 56 is within 1 cm, and power transfer is possible.

[0060] A second mounting space 72 is formed inside the bottom plate 35c of the door pocket 35. The sensor control unit 51 and four detection sensors 53 are provided in the second mounting space 72. The first mounting space 71 and the second mounting space 72 are formed in the mounting portion 75, and the configuration for closing the first mounting space 71 and the second mounting space 72 will be described later. The installation portion 76 shown in FIG. 11 is a space for installing the four detection sensors 53, the sensor control unit 51, and wiring 81. The installation portion 76 is located outside the measurement area 80 indicated by the thick dashed line in FIG. 11. The installation portion 76 is represented by the innermost thin dashed line among the multiple thin dashed lines shown in FIG. 11, excluding the thin dashed line indicating the sensor control unit 51.

[0061] A measurement area 80 corresponding to the shape of the bottom surface of the stored item whose weight is to be measured is formed on the bottom plate 35c. In FIG. 11 , the measurement area 80 is indicated by a thick dashed line. The measurement area 80 shown in FIG. 11 is rectangular. As shown in FIG. 11 , detection sensors 53 are located at each of the four corners of the rectangle of the measurement area 80. When a stored item is placed on the bottom plate 35c above the second mounting space 72, the bottom plate 35c bends, changing the resistance values ​​of the four detection sensors 53, thereby measuring the weight of the stored item. Therefore, the measurement area 80 is located inside the second mounting space 72. When a PET bottle or carton-type stored item is placed in the measurement area 80, the weight of the stored item is evenly distributed across the four detection sensors 53, ensuring measurement accuracy for the stored item. Carton-type stored items are items whose volume and bottom size are standardized among manufacturers of the same stored item so that a predetermined number of stored items can be stored in a box of a predetermined size. An example of a carton-type storage item is milk in a carton.

[0062] 10 , partitions 35b and 35d that divide the storage space of door pocket 35 are wall members that guide stored items into measurement area 80. Partition 35b functions as a sidewall extending parallel to the Y axis in FIG. 10 and divides the storage space of door pocket 35 in the X axis direction in FIG. 10 . Partition 35d functions as a sidewall extending parallel to the X axis and divides the storage space of door pocket 35 in the Y axis direction in FIG. 10 . The measurement area 80 is formed by dividing the storage space of door pocket 35 in the X axis direction and Y axis direction in FIG. 10 by the wall members. The wall members not only serve to store carton-type stored items, such as 2-liter (L) milk cartons, in measurement area 80, but also serve to divide the storage space to prevent the user from storing other stored items in measurement area 80. 11 is a square with a side length of approximately 7 cm when viewed from above. In order to make the measurement area 80 easier to see, the partitions 35b and 35d are not shown in the figure.

[0063] The door pocket 35 has a main body portion 35-1 and a lid portion 35-2. In the configuration shown in Figures 9 to 14, the lid portion 35-2 is attached to the main body portion 35-1 to form the side wall portion 35a1 and the bottom plate 35c of the door pocket 35. In the configuration shown in Figures 15 to 20, the lid portion 35-2 is attached to the main body portion 35-1 to form the side wall portion 35a2 and the bottom plate 35c of the door pocket 35. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the lid portion 35-2 is attached to the outer surface of the main body portion 35-1 of the door pocket 35 to seal the first mounting space 71 and the second mounting space 72 shown in Figure 11; the sealing structure will be described in detail later.

[0064] 11, the installation unit 76 may be laid out so that the closer the distance Lx between the upper edge of the measurement area 80 and the side wall 35a1 is to zero, the closer the measurement area 80 is to the side wall 35a1. FIG. 14 is a layout diagram of the installation unit 76 when the distance Lx shown in FIG. 11 is set to zero. In the layout of the installation unit 76 shown in FIG. 14, the distance Lx shown in FIG. 11 is 1 to 2 mm. If the distance Lx between the upper edge of the measurement area 80 and the side wall 35a1 is 1 to 2 mm, the detection sensor 53 can detect the weight value of the stored item even if the stored item is placed along the side wall 35a1.

[0065] Furthermore, the configuration of the dividers 35b and 35d described with reference to FIG. 10 is merely an example and is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 10 . For example, the divider 35b may be installed so that stored items of other sizes, such as PET bottles, can fit into the measurement area 80, and the divider 35d may be movable along the Y-axis direction in FIG. 10 . The divider 35d may be configured to be detachable from the door pocket 35. Furthermore, the dividers 35b and 35d are not limited to wall members. The dividers 35b and 35d may be configured such that linear or point-like protrusions are provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate 35c of the door pocket 35. A specific example of this case will be described with reference to FIG. 25 .

[0066] As described with reference to Figures 10 to 13, the door pocket 35 has a first mounting space 71 formed inside the side wall portion 35a1 and a second mounting space 72 formed inside the bottom plate 35c. The power receiving antenna coil 56 is provided in the first mounting space 71, and the sensor control unit 51 and the detection sensor 53 are provided in the second mounting space 72. Therefore, the weight value of the stored item stored in the door pocket 35 can be determined without providing a separate container such as a weight measuring container for measuring the weight of the stored item. This allows the storage volume of the door pocket 35 to be used effectively.

[0067] Next, another configuration example when the door pocket 35 is used as a storage container 40 will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 20. Figures 15 to 18 are views of the inside of the refrigerator compartment door 15R shown in Figure 2 when the door is opened so that the outer surface parallel to the XZ plane of the refrigerator compartment door 15R is parallel to the YZ plane. Figures 19 and 20 are views of the door pocket 35 when the door is opened so that the outer surface parallel to the XZ plane of the refrigerator compartment door 15R shown in Figure 2 is parallel to the YZ plane.

[0068] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing another configuration example when the door pocket 35 of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 4 is cut horizontally. FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 15 where the stored item detection device 50 is provided. FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a portion of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 15 where the stored item detection device 50 is provided. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram taken along line D-D in FIG. 15. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 15 when removed from the refrigerator compartment door 15R and viewed from the refrigerator compartment door 15R side. FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the door pocket 35 shown in FIG. 19 with the lid portion 35-2 attached.

[0069] As shown in Figures 15 to 20, the power supply antenna coil 38 is provided on the back surface of the inner wall 34a1 of the rib 34a. A side wall 35a2, which is part of the side wall 35a of the door pocket 35, is disposed opposite the inner wall 34a1. A first mounting space 71 is formed inside the side wall 35a2. The power receiving antenna coil 56 is provided in the first mounting space 71 so as to face the power supply antenna coil 38. A second mounting space 72 is formed inside the bottom plate 35c of the door pocket 35. The sensor control unit 51 and four detection sensors 53 are provided in the second mounting space 72.

[0070] 15 to 20, the power receiving antenna coil 56 is provided inside the side wall portion 35a2 facing the rib 34a, eliminating the need for the side wall portion 35a1 of the door pocket 35. Therefore, the door pocket 35 shown in Figures 15 to 20 can be made lighter in weight than the door pocket 35 described with reference to Figures 8 to 13.

[0071] Next, the configuration for forming the first mounting space 71 and the second mounting space 72 in the door pocket 35 will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20 . In the configurations shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 , the first mounting space 71 is formed in the side wall 35a2, while in the configurations shown in FIGS. 9 to 14 , the first mounting space 71 is formed in the side wall 35a1. Below, with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20 , a case in which the first mounting space 71 is formed in the side wall 35a2 will be described. In the configuration of the door pocket 35 shown in FIGS. 9 to 14 , the door pocket 35 has a side wall 35a1, a lid 35-2 is attached to the side wall 35a1, and the first mounting space 71 is provided within the side wall 35a1. Otherwise, the configuration of the door pocket 35 shown in FIGS. 9 to 14 has the same features as those shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 . As shown in FIG. 19 , the door pocket 35 has a main body 35-1, a lid 35-2, and a waterproof member 91. Figure 19 shows the lid 35-2 removed from the main body 35-1. The lid 35-2 is attached to the outer surface of the main body 35-1. As shown in Figure 19, the lid 35-2 is a rectangular plate bent midway along the bottom plate 35c and the side wall 35a2. When the lid 35-2 is viewed in the direction of the X-axis arrow in Figure 19, it has an approximately L-shaped shape.

[0072] The main body 35-1 has a main body sidewall 35-1a and a main body bottom plate 35-1b. The main body 35-1 has a first recess 39a in the main body sidewall 35-1a, which is a recess for attaching the lid 35-2. The main body 35-1 also has a second recess 39b in the main body bottom plate 35-1b, which is a recess for attaching the lid 35-2. A waterproof member 91 is provided on the outer surface, extending from the first recess 39a to the second recess 39b. The waterproof member 91 is provided between the first recess 39a and the lid 35-2, and between the second recess 39b and the lid 35-2, and prevents liquids such as water from entering the first mounting space 71 and the second mounting space 72. The waterproof member 91 is, for example, a sealing member made of an elastic material such as rubber. The lid portion 35-2 is fixed to the first recess 39a and the second recess 39b of the main body portion 35-1 by fasteners 92. The fasteners 92 are, for example, screws. In the first embodiment, a plurality of screw holes 93 for attaching the screws are formed in the lid portion 35-2. In FIG. 19, the screw holes on the main body portion 35-1 side of the door pocket 35 are not shown. By attaching the lid portion 35-2 to the main body portion 35-1, the side wall portion 35a2 and the bottom plate 35c of the door pocket 35 are formed.

[0073] The first recess 39a and the second recess 39b are continuous. The first recess 39a and the second recess 39b are formed with an attachment portion 75 that corresponds to the shape of the lid portion 35-2 and an installation portion 76 that is located inside the attachment portion 75 and is dug deeper than the attachment portion 75. The attachment portion 75 is a space for attaching the lid portion 35-2 to the main body portion 35-1 of the door pocket 35. The installation portion 76 is a space for installing the four detection sensors 53, the sensor control unit 51, the wiring 81, and the power receiving side antenna coil 56. When the lid portion 35-2 is attached to the attachment portion 75, a first installation space 71 and a second installation space 72 are formed in the installation portion 76.

[0074] A groove (not shown) is formed in the mounting portion 75 to surround the first mounting space 71 and the second mounting space 72, and a waterproof member 91 is disposed in the groove. A plurality of screw holes 93 are formed outside the waterproof member 91 disposed in the groove (not shown) and along the inner periphery of the lid portion 35-2. When the lid portion 35-2 is fixed to the main body portion 35-1 with the fasteners 92, the lid portion 35-2 cooperates with the first recess 39a of the door pocket 35 to form the side wall portion 35a2 and the first mounting space 71, and cooperates with the second recess 39b of the door pocket 35 to form the bottom plate 35c and the second mounting space 72. The waterproof member 91 sandwiched between the main body portion 35-1 and the lid portion 35-2 seals the first mounting space 71 and the second mounting space 72.

[0075] 19 to the container, it is difficult to assemble the bent lid without creating gaps between the lid and the two side surfaces due to dimensional errors that occur during the manufacturing of the lid and the container. In contrast, in the first embodiment, a waterproof member 91 is provided between the main body 35-1 and the lid 35-2, so that even if a gap occurs due to dimensional errors during the manufacturing of these components, the waterproof member 91 deforms to close the gap. Therefore, even if a user removes the door pocket 35 from the refrigerator compartment door 15 and washes the door pocket 35 with water, water is prevented from entering the first mounting space 71 and the second mounting space 72.

[0076] The configuration of the lid portion 35-2 is not limited to the configuration shown in Figures 19 and 20. For example, the lid portion 35-2 may be configured to be separated into two portions: a first rectangular portion parallel to the first recess 39a and a second rectangular portion parallel to the second recess 39b. Furthermore, if the refrigerator compartment door 15 has a support portion (not shown) that supports the bottom plate 35c of the door pocket 35 from below, the power supply side antenna coil 38 may be provided inside the support portion. In this case, the door pocket 35 has a first mounting space 71 and a second mounting space 72 formed in the bottom plate 35c. The lid portion 35-2 is configured as a plate parallel to the second recess 39b.

[0077] As described with reference to Figures 15 to 20, the door pocket 35 has a first mounting space 71 formed inside the side wall portion 35a2 and a second mounting space 72 formed inside the bottom plate 35c. The power receiving antenna coil 56 is provided in the first mounting space 71, and the sensor control unit 51 and the detection sensor 53 are provided in the second mounting space 72. This not only makes it possible to effectively utilize the storage volume of the door pocket 35, but also makes the side wall portion 35a1 unnecessary. This allows for reduced manufacturing costs and weight of the door pocket 35.

[0078] As described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 20 , a portion of a door pocket, which is an accessory of a conventional refrigerator, can be repurposed into storage container 40 to provide an installation surface for power receiving antenna coil 56 of stored item detection device 50. In particular, since power supplying antenna coil 38 can be installed on a side wall portion provided around the periphery of the bottom plate of the accessory door pocket, an installation surface for power receiving antenna coil 56 can be secured in the vertical direction of the door pocket. Furthermore, when the accessory door pocket is installed, power supplying antenna coil 38 and power receiving antenna coil 56 are installed so that the distance between their opposing surfaces is within 1 cm. Therefore, installation of the accessory allows automatic positioning of power supplying antenna coil 38 and power receiving antenna coil 56.

[0079] Next, another configuration example of storage container 40 will be described with reference to Figs. 21 to 23. Figs. 21 to 23 are views of the inside of refrigerator compartment door 15R shown in Fig. 2 when the refrigerator compartment door 15R is open so that the outer surface parallel to the XZ plane becomes parallel to the YZ plane. Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 shown in Fig. 3 when the refrigerator compartment door 15R is open and the inside of the refrigerator compartment door 15R on which storage container 40 is placed is shown. Fig. 22 is an enlarged perspective view of storage container 40 placed in door pocket 35 shown in Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is a schematic cross-sectional view of door pocket 35 shown in Fig. 21 cut horizontally along line E-E.

[0080] The configuration of the storage container 40 will be described. The storage container 40 is, for example, a container made of resin. The storage container 40 has a main body 40-1, a lid 40-2, and a waterproof member 91. The lid 40-2 is attached to the outer surface of the main body 40-1. The outer surface of the main body 40-1 is the surface opposite the inner surface that surrounds the space in which the storage items are stored. The storage container 40 has a bottom plate 70b on which the storage items are placed and sidewalls 70a that form the four side surfaces around the bottom plate 70b. The sidewalls 70a are provided on the periphery of the bottom plate 70b. The lid 40-2 has a rectangular plate bent in the middle, similar to the lid 35-2 shown in FIG. 19.

[0081] If the stored item in the storage container 40 is, for example, a carton-type beverage, a measurement area 80 is formed on the bottom plate 70b to surround the area where the beverage comes into contact with the bottom plate 70b so that one bottle of beverage can be measured. A first mounting space 71 is formed inside a side wall portion 70a1 that forms one of the four side walls 70a of the storage container 40. A power receiving antenna coil 56 is provided in the first mounting space 71. A second mounting space 72 is formed inside the bottom plate 70b to include the measurement area 80. Four detection sensors 53 and a sensor control unit 51 are provided in the second mounting space 72.

[0082] The structure for sealing the first mounting space 71 and the second mounting space 72 in the storage container 40 is the same as the configuration described with reference to Figures 19 and 20, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0083] When the storage container 40 is attached to the door pocket 35, the side wall 35a1 is not necessary, as in the door pocket 35 described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 20 . As shown in FIGS. 21 to 23 , the power supply antenna coil 38 is provided on the back surface of the back panel 15a. Therefore, the storage container 40 is attached to the door pocket 35 so that the power receiving antenna coil 56 and the power supply antenna coil 38 face each other. Specifically, the storage container 40 is attached to the door pocket 35 so that the side wall 70a1 faces the back panel 15a. The orientation of the side wall 70a1 is not limited to the back panel 15a. For example, the power supply antenna coil 38 may be provided on the back surface of the inner wall 34a1 of the rib 34a. In this case, the storage container 40 is attached to the door pocket 35 so that the side wall 70a1 faces the inner wall 34a1 of the rib 34a.

[0084] If the refrigerator compartment door 15 has a support portion (not shown) that supports the bottom plate 35c of the door pocket 35 from below, the power supplying-side antenna coil 38 may be provided inside the support portion. In this case, the door pocket 35 has a first mounting space 71 and a second mounting space 72 formed in the bottom plate 35c. The lid portion 40-2 is formed as a plate that is parallel to a recess formed in the main body bottom plate of the main body portion 40-1. In this case, there is no need to provide an internal space for the power receiving-side antenna coil 56 in the side wall portion 70a1 of the storage container 40. Furthermore, although the case where the storage container 40 is attached to the door pocket 35 has been described, the storage container 40 may also be installed inside the refrigerator compartment 10 so that the power receiving-side antenna coil 56 faces the power supplying-side antenna coil 38 provided on the side wall of the refrigerator compartment 10.

[0085] So far, we have explained the case where the door pocket 35 functions as the storage container 40 (FIGS. 8 to 20) and the case where the storage container 40 is provided separately from the door pocket 35 (FIGS. 21 to 23). Next, we will explain the common features of these two types of cases in addition to the configuration described above. For ease of explanation, the reference numerals assigned to the storage container 40 of one of the two types of cases will be used in the explanation.

[0086] The first mounting space 71 and the second mounting space 72 are connected directly or indirectly, and the power receiving antenna coil 56 and the sensor control unit 51 are connected by a wire 81. The measurement area 80 is determined according to the size of the bottom surface of the stored item to be detected. When the door pocket 35 functions as the storage container 40, by providing multiple detection sensors 53 inside the bottom plate 35c of the door pocket 35, the measurement area 80 can be provided in any area (for example, the entire area) of the bottom plate 35c of the door pocket 35.

[0087] In the first embodiment, as an example, to visually identify the location of the measurement area 80, when the user opens the refrigerator compartment door 15 and looks at the door pocket 35, the measurement area 80 is provided in an area close to the rear panel 15a and an area close to the rear rib 34a of the door pocket 35. When the door pocket 35 functions as a storage container 40, a partition 35b is provided so that when the user stores an item in the storage container 40, the contact area between the bottom surface of the item and the bottom panel 35c does not extend beyond the measurement area 80. The partition 35b is not limited to a wall dividing the storage space of the container into two as shown in FIG. 10 , but may also be a linear or point-like protrusion provided on the upper surface of the bottom panel 35c of the door pocket 35. A specific example of this case will be described with reference to FIG. 25 .

[0088] In the above-described configuration, detection sensor 53 provided in storage container 40 measures the weight value of the stored item, and sensor communication unit 54 transmits the detected weight value to power supply side antenna coil 38 via power receiving side antenna coil 56 of the refrigerator main body.

[0089] In the refrigerator 1 of the first embodiment, the power supply unit (not shown) and the stored item detection device 50 are not connected by wiring, allowing the user to easily remove the storage container 40 from the refrigerator compartment door 15. The stored item detection device 50 is housed in an installation space formed inside the plate material constituting the storage container 40. Specifically, the sensor control unit 51 and the detection sensor 53 are provided in a second installation space 72 formed in the bottom plate 70b of the storage container 40. The power receiving antenna coil 56 is provided in a first installation space 71 formed in the side wall 70a1 of the storage container 40. The first installation space 71 and the second installation space 72 are continuous, and the lid 40-2 is fixed to the installation portion 75 of the main body 40-1 by a fastener 92 via a waterproof member 91. This seals the installation space. Since the installation space is sealed, the intrusion of beverages or water used during washing into the first installation space 71 and the second installation space 72 is suppressed. As a result, deterioration of the detection sensor 53 due to corrosion or the like is suppressed, and it is expected that the detection accuracy of the stored items will be maintained for a long period of time. Furthermore, since the storage container 40 can be washed completely with water, the cleaning ability of the storage container 40 is improved.

[0090] Furthermore, if a rechargeable battery (not shown) is provided in sensor control unit 51, power is supplied wirelessly to the rechargeable battery of sensor control unit 51 provided in storage container 40 via power supply antenna coil 38 and power receiving antenna coil 56 installed in the refrigerator body. Therefore, the user does not need to replace the battery to operate stored item detection device 50.

[0091] Next, another example configuration of the storage container 40 will be described. FIGS. 24 to 26 are perspective views showing another example configuration of the storage container 40. FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing an example of a beverage holder for the storage container 40 according to embodiment 1. FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing another example of a beverage holder for the storage container 40 according to embodiment 1. FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing an example of an egg storage holder for the storage container 40 according to embodiment 1. In FIGS. 24 to 26, the wiring connecting the detection sensor 53 and the sensor control unit 51 and the waterproof member 91 are omitted. Also, for ease of explanation, FIG. 25 shows three axes defining directions.

[0092] The beverage holder 60-1 shown in FIG. 24 is a storage container 40 that stores one or more PET bottles of various sizes or carton-type beverage containers such as milk cartons. The beverage holder 60-2 shown in FIG. 25 is another storage container 40 that stores one or more PET bottles of various sizes or carton-type beverage containers such as milk cartons. While FIGS. 24 and 25 show a case in which four beverages are stored, the number of beverages that can be stored is not limited to four. The egg storage holder 66 shown in FIG. 26 is a storage container 40 that stores one dozen (12 eggs). While FIG. 26 shows a case in which one dozen eggs are stored, the number of eggs that can be stored is not limited to one dozen. The beverage holders 60-1 and 60-2 and the egg storage holder 66 can be used as door pockets 35 attached to the back surface of the refrigerator compartment door 15.

[0093] The configuration of the beverage holder 60-1 will be described with reference to FIG. 24. The beverage holder 60-1 includes four holders, 60A to 60D. Each of the holders 60A to 60D stores one beverage of a predetermined size. Walls 61 are provided between adjacent holders, dividing the four holders 60A to 60D into four holders. Each of the holders 60A to 60D has four detection sensors 53 provided below a bottom plate 62 of the storage space. A sensor control unit 51, like the detection sensors 53, is also provided below the bottom plate 62. The four detection sensors 53 of each of the holders 60A to 60D are connected to the sensor control unit 51 via wiring (not shown). The sensor control unit 51 is connected to the power receiving antenna coil 56 via wiring 81.

[0094] When carton-type beverages are stored in holders 60A-60D, the shape and area of ​​the bottom of each holder are set to correspond to the shape and area of ​​the bottom of the beverage. For example, if the beverage is a 2-liter milk carton, the bottom of the beverage is a square with each side measuring approximately 7 cm. In this case, the shape of the bottom of each holder is square, and the length of each side is set to be longer than 7 cm by a predetermined length ΔL. ΔL is, for example, 2 to 3 mm.

[0095] The configuration of beverage holder 60-2 will be described with reference to FIG. 25. Beverage holder 60-2 has one storage space 63. Three convex portions 64 are provided on the bottom plate 62 of storage space 63, which form four storage spaces 65A-65D. These four storage spaces 65A-65D serve as holders 60A-60D of beverage holder 60-1. Hereinafter, storage spaces 65A-65D will be referred to as holders 65A-65D. In the case of beverage holder 60-2, not only can each holder 65A-65D store a beverage, but they can also be used as a single storage space 63. Each of holders 65A-65D has four detection sensors 53 provided below the bottom plate 62. Similar to the detection sensors 53, a sensor control unit 51 is also provided below the bottom plate 62. The four detection sensors 53 of each of the holders 65A to 65D are connected via wiring (not shown) to the sensor control unit 51. The sensor control unit 51 is connected to the power receiving side antenna coil 56 via wiring 81.

[0096] The wall portion 61 shown in Fig. 24 and the convex portion 64 shown in Fig. 25 act as guides to guide one beverage bottle into one holder. This prevents a single beverage bottle from being stored across multiple holders, resulting in the weight being detected by the detection sensors 53 of multiple holders. The convex portion 64 shown in Fig. 25 has a semicircular cross section parallel to the XZ plane and extends parallel to the Y axis, but the configuration of the partition portion is not limited to the configuration shown in Fig. 25. For example, the partition portion may have a configuration in which protruding protrusions, such as point-like protrusions, are partially provided along the Y axis direction in Fig. 25.

[0097] The beverage holders 60-1 and 60-2 may be attached individually to the back panel 15a of the refrigerator compartment door 15, or may be attached inside the door pocket 35. The beverage holders 60-1 and 60-2 can be easily attached to and detached from the door pocket 35 as storage holders that can measure the weight of each beverage.

[0098] In the first embodiment, in order to improve the accuracy of measuring the amount of beverage, four detection sensors 53 are provided in each holder. In this case, as shown in Figures 24 and 25, the four detection sensors 53 are provided at the four corners of the rectangular bottom surface. Figures 24 and 25 show a case in which four detection sensors 53 are provided in each holder, but the number of detection sensors 53 provided in each holder is not limited to four. When one detection sensor 53 is provided in each holder, it is located in the center of the bottom surface of each holder.

[0099] Egg storage holder 66 will be described with reference to Figure 26. Egg storage holder 66 has a flat egg tray 67 provided in the internal storage space and a bottom plate 69 provided below egg tray 67. Egg tray 67 has 12 openings 68 formed in it. One egg is stored in each opening 68, so egg storage holder 66 can store a total of 12 eggs. When an egg is stored in an opening 68, bottom plate 69 supports the egg. The area where the egg comes into contact with bottom plate 69 is the egg detection area. For this reason, detection sensor 53 is provided below bottom plate 69 in the center of opening 68.

[0100] While Fig. 26 shows an egg storage holder 66 as an example of a configuration for storing eggs, refrigerator compartment door 15 may also be provided with a door pocket 35 in which an egg tray 67 is placed. In this case, detection sensors 53 may also be provided below bottom plate 35c of door pocket 35, as shown in Fig. 26. The twelve detection sensors 53 are connected to sensor control unit 51 via wiring (not shown). Sensor control unit 51 is connected to power receiving antenna coil 56 via wiring 81.

[0101] In the egg storage holder 66 shown in FIG. 26 , an illuminance sensor (not shown) may be provided instead of a weight sensor as the detection sensor 53. This is because it is unlikely that the weight of a single egg will gradually decrease, and it is sufficient to be able to determine the presence or absence of an egg. The illuminance sensor outputs different signals to the sensor control unit 51 depending on whether an egg is stored or not, since its brightness varies depending on whether an egg is stored or not. Alternatively, the detection sensor 53 may be configured to combine an illuminance sensor (not shown) and an LED (not shown). When an egg is stored in the opening 68, the light emitted from the LED is reflected by the egg, and the illuminance sensor detects the light. When an egg is not stored in the opening 68, the light emitted from the LED is not reflected by the egg, and the illuminance sensor does not detect the light. Even in this configuration, the illuminance sensor outputs different signals to the sensor control unit 51 depending on whether an egg is stored or not. The configuration combining an illuminance sensor (not shown) and an LED (not shown) has the advantage of being able to detect the presence or absence of an egg even when the refrigerator compartment door 15 is closed.

[0102] In the first embodiment, the wireless power supply has been described as employing an electromagnetic induction method and an electromagnetic coupling method, but the wireless power supply is not limited to these methods. The wireless power supply may be a radiation type that transmits energy using microwaves or lasers, or may be a magnetic resonance type that has little energy loss. In addition, although the power supply antenna coil 38 and the power receiving antenna coil 56 each have the functions of both a coil and an antenna, the power supply antenna coil 38 and the power receiving antenna coil 56 may each have the functions of a coil and an antenna separately.

[0103] Next, the configuration of the information processing device 300 shown in Fig. 1 will be described. Fig. 27 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the information processing device 300 shown in Fig. 1. The information processing device 300 has a storage device 310 and a control device 320. The storage device 310 is, for example, an SSD (Solid State Drive) or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The control device 320 has a memory (not shown) that stores a program, and a processor (not shown) that executes processing in accordance with the program.

[0104] The storage device 310 stores, in chronological order, the stored item status data received from the control device 30 of the refrigerator 1 via the network NW. The storage device 310 stores, in chronological order, the stored item ratio data received from the control device 30 of the refrigerator 1 via the network NW. The control device 320 reads information on the stored item ratio Rs from the stored item ratio data received from the control device 30 via the network NW, and if the stored item ratio Rs is less than a predetermined threshold ths, transmits warning information including information guiding the user to place an order for the stored item to the information processing terminal 200. The information guiding the user to place an order for the stored item is, for example, one or both of a picture and a message notifying the user that the target stored item is low in stock.

[0105] The control device 320 references the stored item ratio data stored in chronological order in the storage device 310 and estimates the day on which the ratio will reach the threshold value ths based on the ratio stored in chronological order. Specifically, the control device 320 calculates a slope indicating the change in the ratio Rs per elapsed day and estimates the day on which the ratio Rs will reach the threshold value ths from the calculated slope. If the number of days Rd from the current date to the estimated day is less than a predetermined threshold number of days thd, the control device 320 transmits warning information to the information processing terminal 200.

[0106] Next, the configuration of the information processing terminal 200 shown in Fig. 1 will be described. Fig. 28 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the information processing terminal 200 shown in Fig. 1. The information processing terminal 200 is an information processing device such as a smartphone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The information processing terminal 200 has a storage unit 210, a control unit 220, a display unit 230, and an operation unit 240 for the user to input instructions.

[0107] The storage unit 210 is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. The control unit 220 has a memory (not shown) that stores programs and a processor (not shown) that executes processing in accordance with the programs. The display unit 230 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The operation unit 240 is, for example, a touch panel.

[0108] When the control unit 220 receives stored item status data from the control device 30 of the refrigerator 1 via the network NW, it causes the display unit 230 to display the weight value of the stored item. In this case, the user can know the stock of the stored item by the weight value. When the control unit 220 receives stored item ratio data from the control device 30 of the refrigerator 1 via the network NW, it causes the display unit 230 to display the ratio Rs of the stored item. In this case, the user can know the remaining ratio Rs of the stored item. When the control unit 220 receives warning information from the information processing device 300, it causes the display unit 230 to display the warning information. In this case, the user can order more stored items before they run out completely.

[0109] Furthermore, the control unit 220 may display the warning information on the display unit 230 and may also display a web page for performing an operation to purchase the target storage item via the network NW on the display unit 230. Furthermore, when the control unit 220 receives the warning information from the information processing device 300, it may access a server (not shown) that sells the storage items via the network NW and order an amount of the storage item preset by the user, even if no instruction is input by the user.

[0110] The control device 30 may perform the processing of the information processing device 300. Alternatively, the information processing device 300 may perform the processing of the control device 30.

[0111] Next, the operation of the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment 1 will be described. Fig. 29 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation procedure of the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment 1. Here, the description will be given assuming that the door pocket 35 functions as the storage container 40 and the stored item is a beverage such as milk.

[0112] In step S1, the control device 30 determines whether or not there has been an opening or closing operation of the refrigerator compartment door 15 (step S1). If there has been no opening or closing operation of the refrigerator compartment door 15, the control device 30 repeats the determination in step S1. When the user opens the refrigerator compartment door 15, the door opening / closing sensor 36 sends an open state signal to the control device 30. The user removes the stored item from the door pocket 35 and puts some of the stored item in a cup. The user then returns the stored item to the door pocket 35 and closes the refrigerator compartment door 15. When the refrigerator compartment door 15 is closed, the door opening / closing sensor 36 sends a closed state signal to the control device 30. When the control device 30 receives a closed state signal after receiving an open state signal from the door opening / closing sensor 36, it determines in the determination process of step S1 that there has been an opening or closing operation.

[0113] When the control device 30 determines that the refrigerator compartment door 15 has been opened or closed, it energizes the power supply side antenna coil 38 from the power supply unit (not shown) of the refrigerator 1, causing the power supply side antenna coil 38 to supply power to the power receiving side antenna coil 56 (step S2).

[0114] When the power receiving-side antenna coil 56 receives power from the power supplying-side antenna coil, the sensor power supply unit 55 supplies power to the detection sensor 53 and the sensor communication unit 54. When power is supplied to the detection sensor 53, it detects the weight value of the stored item placed on the bottom plate 35c of the storage container 40. The detection sensor 53 outputs information about the weight value to the sensor communication unit 54. When the weight value information is input from the detection sensor 53, the sensor communication unit 54 transmits the weight value information to the power supplying-side antenna coil 38 via the power receiving-side antenna coil 56.

[0115] In step S3, the control device 30 receives information on the weight value of the stored item from the power supply side antenna coil 38. In step S4, the control device 30 reads the reference value from the storage unit 32 and calculates the ratio Rs of the weight value to the reference value. In step S5, the control device 30 transmits stored item ratio data including the ratio Rs of the weight value of the stored item to the information processing terminal 200 and the information processing device 300.

[0116] When the control device 320 of the information processing device 300 receives the stored item ratio data from the control device 30 via the network NW, it reads information on the stored item ratio Rs from the stored item ratio data. The control device 320 then determines whether the stored item ratio Rs is less than the threshold value ths. If the stored item ratio Rs is less than the threshold value ths, the control device 320 transmits warning information including information guiding the user to order the stored items to the information processing terminal 200.

[0117] When the control unit 220 of the information processing terminal 200 receives the warning information from the information processing device 300, the control unit 220 displays the warning information on the display unit 230. For example, the control unit 220 displays on the display unit 230 one or both of a picture and a message notifying the user that the stock of the target storage item is low. In this case, the user can order the storage item before it runs out completely. The control unit 220 may display the warning information on the display unit 230 and also display on the display unit 230 a web page for performing an operation to purchase the target storage item via the network NW. Furthermore, when the control unit 220 receives the warning information from the information processing device 300, the control unit 220 may access a server (not shown) that sells the storage item via the network NW and order an amount of the storage item preset by the user, even without inputting an instruction from the user. In this case, the user's burden of ordering the storage item is reduced.

[0118] 29 , when receiving weight value information from the power supply side antenna coil 38, the control device 30 may compare the level of the received signal with a predetermined threshold intensity. If the comparison result indicates that the level of the received signal is lower than the threshold intensity, the control device 30 causes a display unit (not shown) of the operation panel 20 to display warning information to notify the user that the position of the storage container 40 has shifted. In this case, the control device 30 may transmit the warning information to the information processing terminal 200, and cause the warning information to be displayed on the display unit 230 of the information processing terminal 200.

[0119] Refrigerator 1 of Embodiment 1 includes an insulated box 2 having a storage compartment formed therein, a door provided on the front of insulated box 2 for opening and closing an opening of the storage compartment, a door open / close sensor 36 for detecting the open / close state of the door, a storage container 40 provided in the door or the storage compartment for storing stored items, a stored item detection device 50 provided in storage container 40, a power supplying-side antenna coil 38, and a control device 30. Stored item detection device 50 includes a detection sensor 53 for detecting stored items, a sensor communication unit 54 electrically connected to detection sensor 53, and a power receiving-side antenna coil 56 connected to detection sensor 53 and sensor communication unit 54 via wiring 81. Power supplying-side antenna coil 38 is provided in the door or the storage compartment and wirelessly supplies power to detection sensor 53 and sensor communication unit 54 via power receiving-side antenna coil 56. When power is supplied from power receiving-side antenna coil 56, detection sensor 53 detects stored items and outputs the detection result to sensor communication unit 54. When the detection result is input from the detection sensor 53, the sensor communication unit 54 wirelessly transmits the detection result to the power supplying side antenna coil 38 via the power receiving side antenna coil 56. The control device 30 receives the detection result via the power supplying side antenna coil 38.

[0120] According to the first embodiment, power is wirelessly supplied from the power supply antenna coil 38 provided on the refrigerator compartment door 15 or the side wall of the refrigerator compartment 10 to the power receiving antenna coil 56 provided on the storage container 40 that stores the stored items. Therefore, there is no need to connect the detection sensor 53 that detects the stored items to the power supply unit (not shown) of the refrigerator 1 with a wire. Not only can the control device 30 notify the user of the detection result of the detection sensor 53, but the user can easily remove the storage container 40 from the refrigerator 1. If food stains or other contaminants adhere to the storage container 40, the user can simply carry the storage container 40 to a kitchen sink and wash it under running water, since no wires are connected to the storage container 40. Furthermore, because the stored item detection device 50, including the detection sensor 53, the sensor communication unit 54, and the power receiving antenna coil 56, is sealed, these electrical components can be prevented from getting wet even when the storage container 40 is thoroughly washed with water. As a result, the storage container 40 is easier to clean and can be kept clean.

[0121] Furthermore, in conventional refrigerators, if a battery is stored in the egg storage holder, the user can remove the egg storage holder from the refrigerator body, but must periodically replace the battery. This periodically places a burden on the user to replace the battery. In contrast, in the first embodiment, if a rechargeable battery (not shown) is provided in sensor control unit 51, power is wirelessly supplied to the rechargeable battery of sensor control unit 51 provided in storage container 40 via power supply antenna coil 38 and power receiving antenna coil 56. This eliminates the need for the user to replace the battery in sensor control unit 51.

[0122] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator, 2 Insulated box, 2a Front portion, 2b Back portion, 3 Outer box, 4 Inner box, 5 Insulation material, 6 Storage space, 7a to 7c Partition member, 10 Refrigerator compartment, 10a to 14a Opening, 11 Ice making compartment, 12 Switching compartment, 13 Vegetable compartment, 14 Freezer compartment, 15, 15L, 15R Refrigerator compartment door, 15a Back panel, 16 Ice making compartment door, 17 Switching compartment door, 18 Vegetable compartment door, 19 Freezer compartment door, 20 Operation panel, 21 Cooling compartment, 22 Back panel, 23 Fan, 24 Cooler, 25 Air duct, 26 Damper device, 27a to 27e Temperature sensor, 29 Compressor, 30 Control device, 31 Control unit, 32 Memory unit, 33 Power supply control unit, 34a, 34b Rib, 34a1 Inner wall, 35 Door pocket, 35-1 Main body, 35-1a Main body side wall, 35-1b Main body bottom plate, 35-2 Lid, 35a, 35a1, 35a2 Side wall, 35b Partition, 35c Bottom plate, 35d Partition, 36 Door opening / closing sensor, 37 Timer, 38 Power supply side antenna coil, 39a First recess, 39b Second recess, 40 Storage container, 40-1 Main body, 40-2 Lid, 41 Shelf, 42 Hinge, 42a Cover, 43 Hinge opening, 45, 45a, 45b Communication unit, 46, 47 Signal line, 48 Small item door pocket, 49 Plate, 50 Storage item detection device, 51 Sensor control unit, 52 Memory, 53 Detection sensor, 54 Sensor communication unit, 55 Sensor power supply unit, 56: power receiving antenna coil, 57: processor, 59: wiring, 60-1, 60-2: beverage holder, 60A to 60D: holder, 61: wall portion, 62: bottom plate, 63: storage space, 64: convex portion, 65A to 65D: storage space, 66: egg storage holder, 67: egg tray, 68: opening, 69: bottom plate, 70: vacuum insulation material, 70a, 70a1: side wall portion, 70b: bottom plate, 71: first mounting space, 72: second mounting space, 75: mounting portion, 76: installation portion, 77: antenna coil mounting portion, 77a, 77b: protrusion, 78: vacuum insulation material, 80: measurement area, 81: wiring, 91: waterproof member, 92: fixing device, 93: screw hole, 100: refrigeration system, 200: information processing terminal, 210 Storage unit, 220 control unit, 230 display unit, 240 operation unit, 300 information processing device, 310 storage device, 320 control device, NW network.

Claims

1. a heat-insulating box having a storage chamber formed therein; a door provided on the front surface of the heat-insulating box body for opening and closing the opening of the storage chamber; a door opening / closing sensor that detects the opening / closing state of the door; a storage container provided in the door or the storage chamber for storing stored items; a power receiving antenna coil provided in the housing; a power supplying-side antenna coil that is provided on the door or the storage compartment and that wirelessly supplies power to the power receiving-side antenna coil when the door opening / closing sensor detects an opening or closing operation of the door; a detection sensor provided in the storage container, the detection sensor detecting the stored item when power is supplied from the power receiving antenna coil and outputting the detection result; a sensor communication unit provided in the storage container, the sensor communication unit wirelessly transmitting the detection result to the power supplying antenna coil via the power receiving antenna coil when the detection result is input from the detection sensor; a control device that receives the detection result via the power supply side antenna coil; and The storage container includes: a main body having a bottom plate on which the storage item is placed and a side wall provided on a periphery of the bottom plate; a cover attached to an outer surface of the main body and forming, together with the main body, an attachment space for accommodating the detection sensor, the sensor communication unit, and the power receiving side antenna coil; a member provided between the main body and the lid when the lid is attached to the main body, for sealing the attachment space; refrigerator.

2. The member is a waterproof member. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

3. the door has a back panel facing the storage compartment; The power supply antenna coil is provided on the back plate, a first mounting space in which the power receiving side antenna coil is provided is formed in the side wall portion, a second mounting space in which the detection sensor is provided is formed in the bottom plate, When the storage container is attached to the door, the power receiving side antenna coil and the power supply side antenna coil are disposed opposite to each other. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

4. A pair of ribs is provided on two vertical sides of the back panel, The storage container is a door pocket attached to the pair of ribs and fixed to the door. The refrigerator according to claim 3.

5. The door is provided with a door pocket attached to a pair of ribs provided on two vertical sides of the back panel, The storage container is stored in the door pocket. The refrigerator according to claim 3.

6. the door has a back panel facing the storage compartment and a pair of ribs provided on two vertical sides of the back panel, the power supply side antenna coil is provided on one of the pair of ribs, a first mounting space in which the power receiving side antenna coil is provided is formed in the side wall portion, a second mounting space in which the detection sensor and the sensor communication unit are provided is formed in the bottom plate; When the storage container is attached to the door, the power receiving side antenna coil and the power supply side antenna coil are disposed opposite to each other. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

7. The door is provided with a door pocket fixed to the pair of ribs, The storage container is stored in the door pocket. The refrigerator according to claim 6.

8. the lid portion is a plate bent along the bottom plate and the side wall portion, The lid portion is fixed to the main body portion by a fixing device. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The waterproof member is an elastic sealing member. The refrigerator according to claim 2.

10. The control device When the door opening / closing sensor detects the opening / closing operation of the door, the power supplying side antenna coil is energized to supply power to the detection sensor and the sensor communication unit, and the detection result is received from the sensor communication unit via the power receiving side antenna coil and the power supplying side antenna coil. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

11. The detection sensor is a weight sensor that detects the weight value of the stored item. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

12. a communication unit that connects the control device to an external information processing device for communication; The control device a ratio of the weight value detected by the weight sensor to a reference value for the stored item is calculated, and information on the ratio is transmitted to the information processing device via the communication unit; The refrigerator according to claim 11.

13. A storage container that stores stored items and is housed in a refrigerator, a power-receiving-side antenna coil to which power is wirelessly supplied from a power-supply-side antenna coil provided in the refrigerator; a detection sensor electrically connected to the power receiving antenna coil, which detects the stored item when power is supplied from the power receiving antenna coil, and outputs the detection result; a sensor communication unit electrically connected to the power receiving-side antenna coil and the detection sensor, and configured to wirelessly transmit the detection result to the power supplying-side antenna coil via the power receiving-side antenna coil when the detection result is input from the detection sensor; a main body having a bottom plate on which the storage item is placed and a side wall provided on a periphery of the bottom plate; a cover attached to an outer surface of the main body and forming, together with the main body, an attachment space for accommodating the detection sensor, the sensor communication unit, and the power receiving side antenna coil; a member that is provided between the main body and the lid when the lid is attached to the main body and seals the attachment space, a weight sensor for detecting the weight of the stored item is provided on the bottom plate as the detection sensor; the power receiving-side antenna coil and the power supplying-side antenna coil face each other when the storage container is placed in a storage compartment or on a door of the storage compartment of the refrigerator; Storage container.

14. The member is a waterproof member. The storage container of claim 13.