Refrigerated display case and control method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerating display cabinets lack the ability to automatically adjust their door states in response to changing customer traffic, leading to inefficiencies in energy consumption and user convenience, particularly in unattended shops and 24-hour convenience stores.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerating display cabinet equipped with a control system that uses a timing portion to calculate the holding duration of the cabinet door state and a person identification device to adjust the door's opening and closing based on preset time periods and the number of people present, ensuring the door opens with a large crowd and closes with a small crowd, while also controlling lighting and temperature regulation accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cabinet door is kept open for easy customer access, then customer convenience is improved, but energy consumption increases and thermostatic effect deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cabinet door state is dynamically adjusted between open, closed, and automatic modes based on real-time detection of customer presence and behavior patterns. The system transitions from static door states to dynamic adaptive states, optimizing the balance between accessibility and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses cameras and sensors to detect customer presence, queue length, and interaction behavior, then feeds this information back to the control unit which adjusts door states accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables real-time optimization of door control based on actual usage patterns.
2Loss of energy
If the cabinet door is kept closed for energy efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but customer access convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cabinet door state is dynamically adjusted between open, closed, and automatic modes based on real-time detection of customer presence and behavior patterns. The system transitions from static door states to dynamic adaptive states, optimizing the balance between accessibility and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses cameras and sensors to detect customer presence, queue length, and interaction behavior, then feeds this information back to the control unit which adjusts door states accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables real-time optimization of door control based on actual usage patterns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a manually concealable door is installed to combine advantages, then versatility is improved, but automation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the display cabinet to automatically monitor its own operational state, detect customer needs through integrated sensors and cameras, and autonomously adjust door states without manual intervention. This self-service capability transforms the manually concealable door into an automatically controlled system.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit integrates multiple functions including customer detection, queue management, door control, lighting adjustment, and temperature regulation into a single unified system. This multi-functional approach enables automatic door switching while maintaining the versatility of different door states.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the cabinet door switches states frequently to adapt to changing conditions, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into modular functional units: detection modules (cameras, sensors), analysis modules (customer behavior recognition), control modules (door, lighting, temperature), and timing modules (holding duration control). This segmentation reduces overall system complexity while enabling sophisticated automatic state switching.
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerating display cabinet and a control method therefor. The refrigerating display cabinet comprises: a cabinet body having an inner receiving space; a cabinet door controlled to open or close the inner receiving space; a timing portion configured to calculate a holding duration of the current state of the cabinet door of the refrigerating display cabinet; and a control portion configured to obtain a preset period of time, and control the cabinet door to open or close based on a result of comparison between the holding duration of the current state of the cabinet door and the preset period of time.