Refrigerator Camera Layout for Multi-Region Food Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators require the door to be opened to check the interior, leading to inefficiencies in food storage management, such as redundant purchases and inadequate information about stored food due to limited camera range and issues with dew condensation, power consumption, and picture quality.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a camera fixed to the ceiling that captures images of both external and internal food storage regions within the same picture, using a controller to separate and display these regions individually, and a method to prevent dew condensation and optimize power usage by synchronizing camera operation with door opening and rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple cameras are installed to photograph various storage regions, then the photographing coverage is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the dynamic opening motion of the refrigerator door to enable a single stationary camera to capture different storage regions at different door opening angles. As the door opens, the camera's field of view dynamically changes to cover the cold storage compartment, fresh-keeping compartment, and drawer regions sequentially, eliminating the need for multiple cameras while maintaining comprehensive coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The single camera installed in the door body serves multiple photographing functions by capturing images of different storage regions (cold storage compartment, fresh-keeping compartment, and drawer) during the door opening process. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require multiple dedicated cameras for each region
2Loss of information
If the camera operates continuously to capture food storage information, then the information availability is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera operates periodically based on door opening events rather than continuously. The control unit triggers the camera to photograph only when the door opening angle reaches the predetermined angle, ensuring that food storage information is captured at relevant moments while avoiding unnecessary continuous operation and associated power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the door opening angle in real-time and uses this feedback to determine when to activate the camera. When the angle sensor detects that the door opening angle has reached the predetermined angle, the control unit triggers the camera to capture images, creating a feedback-based triggering mechanism that optimizes power usage
3Loss of energy
If the door remains closed to reduce energy loss, then energy efficiency is improved, but the ability to check stored food deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates visual copies (photographs) of the food storage regions and transmits them to external terminal devices. Users can view these image copies on their smartphones or other terminals to check stored food contents without physically opening the refrigerator door, thereby eliminating energy loss while maintaining convenient food checking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The camera and communication system serve as an intermediary between the user and the stored food. Instead of directly opening the door to check food, users interact with the system through terminal devices that receive and display images captured by the camera, providing indirect but effective access to food information
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a storage compartment formed in a cabinet of the refrigerator by a fixed insulation wall, the storage compartment being provided with an access opening. The refrigerator also includes a door rotatably provided to the cabinet to open and close the access opening, a drawer provided in the storage compartment, a camera fixed to a ceiling of the storage compartment to photograph both a first region for storing of food arranged in an external space of the drawer and a second region for storing of food arranged in an internal space of the drawer, and a controller configured to separate, through a capturing time of a picture containing both the first region and the second region, a first region picture and a second region picture from the picture to individually divide and store the first region picture and the second region picture.