Refrigerator and control method for the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators require opening the door to check the interior, leading to inefficiencies in food storage management, including redundant purchases and lack of information about stored food items, and face challenges with camera installation efficiency, dew condensation, and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a camera fixed to the ceiling that captures images of both external and internal food storage regions within the compartment, allowing for intuitive user information display without opening the door, optimizing camera operation to reduce power consumption and prevent dew condensation, and using a single camera to cover multiple storage areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving 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 employs a rotatable camera module that can dynamically change its photographing angle to capture images of different storage regions including the refrigerating compartment, freezing compartment, and drawer. This dynamic positioning capability allows a single camera to perform the function of multiple fixed cameras, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The single camera system is designed to serve multiple storage regions through rotation and angle adjustment, making it a universal solution that replaces multiple specialized cameras. The camera can photograph various compartments by changing its orientation, achieving multi-functionality with a single device
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/closing events rather than continuously. The control unit triggers the camera to photograph when the door state changes, ensuring fresh information is captured at relevant moments while avoiding unnecessary continuous operation that would waste energy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses door state sensors to provide feedback that triggers camera operation. When the door is opened or closed, this state change is detected and feeds back to the control unit, which then activates the camera to capture updated images, creating an event-driven operation mode that balances information freshness with energy efficiency
3Loss of energy
If the door remains closed to maintain refrigeration efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but the user cannot check stored food items
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates visual copies (photographs) of the food storage regions and transmits these images to external terminal devices. Users can view these copied images on their smartphones or other terminals to check stored food items without physically opening the refrigerator door, thus maintaining refrigeration efficiency while providing information access
Solution Approach 2:
The camera and communication system act as an intermediary between the user and the stored food items. Instead of direct visual inspection requiring door opening, the intermediary system captures and transmits images, allowing indirect observation that preserves the closed-door state and refrigeration efficiency
4Loss of information
If the camera is positioned to photograph drawer interior, then the drawer region visibility is improved, but dew condensation occurs on the camera
Solution Approach 1:
The camera module is extracted from the direct cold storage environment where dew condensation occurs. By positioning the camera in a location less susceptible to condensation while maintaining photographing capability through rotation and angle adjustment, the harmful condensation effect is avoided while preserving the ability to capture drawer interior images
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system is provided for an inside of a refrigerator. The camera system includes a camera module that includes an image sensor, a camera lens, electrical components configured to drive the image sensor, and a transparent window spaced a predetermined distance from the camera lens. The camera system also includes a camera housing configured to seat and fix the camera module at a predetermined position in the camera housing. The camera housing includes a fixing surface arranged to adjoin an upper wall of a storage compartment of a refrigerator; a front surface arranged to face an access opening of the storage compartment and side surfaces connecting the front surface to a rear surface of the camera housing; and a top surface provided with an opening allowing the transparent window of the camera module to be exposed therethrough.