Refrigerator Camera System with Periodic Automatic Image Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator systems with cameras require user intervention for capturing images of the fridge interior, making the process cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing system integrated with a refrigerator, featuring a communicable image capturing device that periodically captures images based on user settings, transmits data to external devices via a communication unit, and includes a display unit for outputting captured images, allowing remote access and control through a mobile terminal or server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a camera is provided with an image capturing portion, then image data can be obtained, but troublesome operations such as acquiring image data by user operation are required
Solution Approach 1:
The camera automatically captures images of the fridge interior without requiring user operation. The control unit autonomously determines when and what to capture, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user intervention for each image capture operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera is pre-configured with the image capturing portion and control unit before use, so that when needed, it can immediately capture images without requiring setup or manual activation. The system prepares the capturing capability in advance and automatically executes it based on predetermined conditions.
2Productivity
If a camera is provided with an image capturing portion, then image data can be obtained, but user intervention is required every time an image is to be captured
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system autonomously performs image capture operations based on conditions set by the control unit, eliminating the need for repeated user intervention. The system serves itself by automatically determining capture timing and executing the capture without manual activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera captures images periodically or at predetermined intervals based on the control unit's settings, rather than requiring continuous user activation. This periodic automatic capture improves productivity by capturing images at regular intervals without manual intervention.
3Ease of operation
If the camera captures images periodically based on settings, then remote access is enabled, but device complexity increases with communication and control units
Solution Approach 1:
The communication unit serves multiple functions: transmitting captured images to external devices, receiving control settings from external devices, and enabling remote monitoring. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive remote access capabilities through a single integrated component.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit and communication unit are integrated into a unified system where the control unit manages both image capture operations and communication protocols. This merging of control and communication functions reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate independent systems.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an image capturing system is configured so that a device for capturing images is communicable with an external device through a communication unit. The image capturing system is provided with an operating unit configured to make settings pertaining to image capturing, an image capturing device serving as the device for capturing images and being configured to produce image data by periodically capturing images based on the settings made to the operating unit and a display unit configured to produce a display output based on the image data.