Electronic device and method for determining kind and state of food stored therein
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas sensors in refrigerators are unable to detect low-concentration gases generated by food, requiring large and expensive equipment, and struggle to identify the specific gas among multiple gases present, leading to inaccurate determination of food state and increased risk of food spoilage and poisoning.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a gas detecting system that includes a processor, memory, and a gas detecting device to measure and analyze low-concentration gases generated by food, using an adsorption member to adsorb and desorb gases for identification based on temperature changes and time points, allowing precise determination of food kind and state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional gas sensors are used to detect gases generated from food, then high-concentration gases can be detected, but low-concentration gases cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gas detection process into multiple stages: adsorption of gas components onto the adsorption member, selective desorption through controlled heating, and sequential detection. This segmentation allows low-concentration gases to be concentrated and detected separately from high-concentration gases, resolving the contradiction between detection threshold and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an adsorption member as an intermediary between the gas mixture and the sensor. This intermediary selectively adsorbs and concentrates low-concentration gases, enabling their detection without being overwhelmed by high-concentration gases, thus improving both detection precision and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If analysis-dedicated equipment is used to detect low-concentration gases, then detection precision is improved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the detection system by using temperature-controlled adsorption and desorption processes. This allows a compact device to achieve analysis-level detection precision through parameter manipulation rather than requiring large-scale equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous adsorption materials that can concentrate low-concentration gases from the air mixture. This material-based approach enables precise detection of trace gases using a compact device structure, avoiding the need for large analysis-dedicated equipment.
3Loss of information
If multiple gases are present in mixed state from food decomposition, then comprehensive food state information is available, but gas identification becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic heating cycles to the adsorption member, creating distinct desorption phases for different gas components. This periodic action separates the mixed gases in time, allowing each gas to be identified based on its desorption characteristics without interference from other gases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary adsorption of all gas components onto the adsorption member before detection. This preliminary action concentrates and separates the mixed gases, making subsequent identification easier by eliminating the complexity of analyzing a gas mixture directly.
4Ease of manufacture
If monitoring is done by naked eye or scent recognition, then no special equipment is needed, but precision and reliability are low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/sensory system of naked eye observation and scent recognition with an automated gas detection system. This substitution maintains ease of manufacture while dramatically improving measurement precision through electronic sensing and analysis.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate detection and analysis of low-concentration gases from food, determining freshness, ripening, and decomposition states, reducing the risk of spoilage and foodborne illnesses by providing a cost-effective and precise method for identifying food states in refrigerators.
Implementation Method 1
an adsorption member configured to adsorb at least a portion of gas contained in air in the at least one storage container
Implementation Method 2
a heating unit configured to heat the adsorption member, and a gas detecting device including a sensor configured to sense gas desorbed when the adsorption member is heated
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an electronic device and a method for determining the kind and the state of a food stored therein. The electronic device includes a storage container in which the food is stored, a gas detecting device for detecting a gas included in air in the storage container, and at least one processor that identifies a time point, at which the gases included in the air in the storage container are extracted, on the basis of at least one temperature profile of the gas detecting device, and identifies a time point at which the gases included in the air in the storage container are extracted, on the basis of a configuration of at least one adsorption material included in the gas detecting device.