Refrigerator Item Recognition for Automatic Food Inventory Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric devices lack efficient methods for managing and processing information related to stored items, such as food in refrigerators, clothes in washing machines, or cooking methods, which often require manual user input and are prone to errors due to the need for users to remember and track item information.

Innovation Solution

A network system comprising a terminal, a refrigerator, and a server that uses communication interfaces like WiFi, ZigBee, or Bluetooth to recognize and manage information through a recognition device, such as a camera, RFID reader, or barcode scanner, synchronizing data across devices to display and store food-related information, including expiration dates and storage details, for easy management and remote monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual user input is used to manage item information, then users can track and remember item details, but errors increase due to manual input requirements and user memory burden

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of item information managementVSAvoidconvenience of item information input

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-service information management where the refrigerator device autonomously captures images of stored items, identifies them using recognition algorithms, and updates inventory databases without requiring manual user input. This eliminates human error while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical input methods (typing, button pressing) with automated optical recognition systems. Image capture devices and pattern recognition algorithms substitute for human manual operations, thereby improving accuracy while maintaining user convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If automated recognition systems are implemented, then information management accuracy improves, but device complexity increases due to additional components like cameras and recognition algorithms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of item information recognitionVSAvoidnumber of recognition components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerator device integrates multiple functions into existing components. The display screen serves both as a user interface and an image capture medium. The processor handles both appliance control and image recognition tasks, reducing the need for separate dedicated components and minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses image files as an intermediary between the physical items and the digital database. Instead of direct complex sensor-array interactions, simple image capture followed by software-based recognition provides an elegant intermediate step that balances accuracy with implementation simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If centralized database synchronization is implemented, then remote monitoring capability improves, but network communication requirements and system integration complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote monitoring convenienceVSAvoidnetwork integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a centralized database as an intermediary layer between the refrigerator device and remote user interfaces. This database mediator handles all synchronization and communication protocols, isolating network complexity from both the appliance controller and the user's terminal devices, thereby simplifying overall system integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If image-based recognition is used instead of manual input, then information accuracy improves, but processing time increases due to image analysis requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of item identificationVSAvoidtime for information processing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously capturing and pre-processing images in the background without waiting for user requests. Item recognition and database updates occur proactively before the user needs the information, eliminating perceived processing delays when users access the data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigerator system implements periodic image capture and recognition cycles at predetermined intervals. This periodic operation allows batch processing of recognition tasks rather than real-time analysis, reducing individual processing time while maintaining continuous inventory accuracy through regular updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9013273B2Method of controlling electric device

Publication Date: 2015.04.21 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A method for controlling an electronic device is provided. The method may include displaying, on a display, information related to at least one of a plurality of items to be managed or processed by the device, selecting at least one piece of item information displayed on the display, recognizing the selected piece of item information, and storing the recognized piece of item information into a memory as an object to be managed or processed by the device.