System for controlling access through a door of a refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator doors often remain open for extended periods, leading to temperature fluctuations, spoilage of perishables, increased energy consumption, and potential damage to the appliance, particularly due to children's accidental or intentional access.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a thermal sensor to detect temperature parameters from the door environment, coupled with a processing unit that compares these parameters to a threshold value to determine access, employing a locking mechanism to control access based on the user's weight, thereby preventing unauthorized or excessive access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a remote or local refrigerator door lock is used to control access, then access control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for people above a certain weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical weight threshold system with a thermal sensing system. Instead of requiring users to physically overcome a weight-based mechanical lock, the system uses thermal sensors to detect the temperature increase caused by a user's hand or body proximity, thereby determining access authorization. This substitution eliminates the physical barrier while maintaining security through thermal detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the access control parameter from mechanical weight threshold to thermal temperature detection. By monitoring temperature changes near the door handle or sensor area, the system can identify authorized users based on their thermal signature or body heat, thereby maintaining access control reliability while improving ease of operation for all users regardless of weight.
2Ease of operation
If the refrigerator door is kept open for a longer period, then ease of operation is improved, but temperature stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where thermal sensors continuously monitor temperature changes in the refrigerator vicinity. When the door remains open beyond a predetermined time, the system detects the thermal impact and triggers an alert or automatic door closure mechanism, thereby maintaining temperature stability while allowing necessary door openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes predetermined time thresholds for door opening duration before significant thermal impact occurs. By monitoring and comparing actual door open duration against these pre-established thresholds, the system can take preliminary action (such as sending notifications or automatically closing the door) before temperature stability is compromised.
3Reliability
If a proximity sensor is used to detect objects near the door handle, then access control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the thermal sensor into existing refrigerator components, such as the door handle or control panel, allowing the same sensor to serve multiple functions including access control, user identification, and temperature monitoring. This multi-functionality approach maintains access control reliability while minimizing additional device complexity by reusing existing structural elements.
4Temperature
If access control based on weight threshold is implemented, then temperature stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical weight threshold system with a thermal sensing system. Instead of requiring users to physically overcome a weight-based mechanical lock, the system uses thermal sensors to detect the temperature increase caused by a user's hand or body proximity, thereby determining access authorization. This substitution eliminates the physical barrier while maintaining security through thermal detection.
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
Effectively maintains the refrigerator's internal temperature, reduces energy consumption, and prevents damage by standardizing access control based on user-specific weight thresholds, ensuring efficient and secure operation.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal sensor which is adapted to detect a temperature parameter from an environment of a door of the refrigerator
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A system (1) for controlling access to refrigerator (2) comprising a thermal sensor (3) that is adapted to detect a thermal parameter (4) from an environment of a door (5) of the refrigerator (2), and a processing unit (6) adapted to receive and process the thermal parameter (4) and to determine whether to allow access to the refrigerator (2) or not.