Method and system for providing information about objects in refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator systems do not effectively provide information about objects stored inside without opening the door, especially for obscured or hard-to-identify items, and lack efficient methods for tracking container contents and expiration dates.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a camera and display unit in the refrigerator to capture images of stored objects, display substitute images upon user input, and provide detailed information, including expiration dates and container contents, through augmented reality techniques, allowing users to identify objects and track container positions without opening the door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users open the refrigerator door to identify stored items, then they can see the contents clearly, but energy loss increases and storage temperature stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of stored items and displays them on a display unit mounted on the refrigerator door or externally. This creates a visual copy of the interior contents, allowing users to identify items without opening the door, thereby preventing energy loss and temperature fluctuations that would occur with frequent door openings.
2Loss of information
If users open the refrigerator door to locate specific items, then they can identify obscured objects, but time loss increases due to searching
Solution Approach 1:
The camera captures real-time or periodic images of the refrigerator interior and displays them on the display unit. Users can view the complete contents including obscured items without physically opening the door and searching, significantly reducing the time required to locate specific items.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously capturing and displaying images of the refrigerator contents before the user needs to access them. This allows users to plan their retrieval operations in advance, opening the door only when necessary and knowing exactly what to look for, thereby reducing both time loss and energy consumption.
3Loss of information
If the refrigerator displays detailed information about all stored items, then information completeness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays information selectively rather than showing all possible data about every item. The display unit presents relevant information such as item images, expiration dates, and basic identification, while omitting less critical details. This partial action approach provides sufficient information for most user needs without requiring complex processing and storage systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of providing information about an object in a refrigerator is provided. The method includes: obtaining, using a camera, an image of a plurality of objects stored in the refrigerator; displaying the image on a display of the refrigerator; receiving a first user input indicating a first object from among the plurality of objects included in the image; and displaying a substitute image of the first object on the display based on the first user input.