Food Management Using Moving Image Capture for Detection Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food management systems using still image capture often fail to accurately detect food items being taken into or out of a refrigerator due to factors like speed and angle of movement, leading to incomplete image capturing results.
Innovation Solution
A food management system employing a camera to capture moving images of the refrigerator's opening and using a food detection unit to identify food items based on these images, increasing the likelihood of accurate detection and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If still image capture is used, then the system structure is simple, but the detection accuracy of food items is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static still image capture to dynamic moving image capture. The camera continuously captures a sequence of images, allowing the system to track food items as they move in and out of the refrigerator. This dynamic approach ensures that food items are captured regardless of their movement speed or angle, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously capturing moving images before food items completely enter or leave the detection area. The continuous capture ensures that the food items are recorded during their transition, allowing for accurate detection even when movement is rapid or at various angles.
2Reliability
If still image capture is used, then energy consumption is low, but the probability of capturing moving food items is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by capturing images at regular intervals during the opening and closing of the refrigerator door. Instead of continuous uninterrupted capture, the system takes periodic snapshots that are sufficient to capture moving food items while minimizing energy consumption. This periodic capture approach maintains high reliability for detecting food items in motion.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a food management system that can accurately manage a food item contained in a refrigerator.A food management system is configured to manage a food item contained in a refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment and includes a refrigerator compartment camera 21 and a drawer camera 22 configured to capture a moving image, and a food detection unit 221D configured to detect a food item taken into or out of the refrigerator based on the moving image obtained by the image capturing with the refrigerator compartment camera 21 and the drawer camera 22.