Microwave Heating Control Using Camera-Based Label Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave ovens require cumbersome operations for setting heating times, and as the variety of food types increases, users struggle to remember the correspondences between operation buttons and heating times, leading to potential errors and increased operational load for store clerks.
Innovation Solution
A microwave oven with a single camera that captures images of the inside chamber, recognizes heating control information from labels on food using a simple configuration, and automatically sets the heating parameters, while a disposing position guide unit assists in positioning the food within the camera's range for accurate recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a barcode reader is used to read code information, then heating control information can be automatically obtained, but the device complexity increases and pre-stored heating control information for each product is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture an image of the code information on the product, creating a visual copy that can be processed by image recognition algorithms. This replaces the need for a barcode reader hardware device and pre-stored databases, as the heating control information is extracted directly from the captured image through pattern recognition.
2Device complexity
If a camera is used to capture images of code information, then device complexity is reduced, but the camera must have extremely high resolution to distinguish black and white portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a disposing position guide unit as an intermediary that guides the product to the correct position within the camera's capturing range. This ensures the code information is properly positioned and illuminated, allowing a standard-resolution camera to capture clear images without requiring extremely high resolution, thus resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and image quality.
3Reliability
If multiple cameras are used to capture divided areas, then code information can be read from any captured image, but the system becomes complicated and reading becomes difficult when multiple images contain code information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single camera universal by equipping it with a disposing position guide unit that ensures the code information is always positioned within the camera's capturing range regardless of product placement variations. This allows one camera to perform the function that would otherwise require multiple cameras, maintaining reliability while reducing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Heating control information recognizing unit recognizes heating control information of an object to be heated from an image of the inside of heating chamber captured by imaging unit, and heating controller controls heating unit based on the heating control information. When it is difficult for heating control information recognizing unit to perform recognition, disposing position guide unit guides the object to be heated to a capturing range of imaging unit. It is thus possible to recognize the heating control information with a simple configuration including a single camera functioning as imaging unit.