Refrigerator system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator systems face challenges in accurately detecting changes in food storage states and high communication loads due to large data transmission of images taken at constant camera speeds, which can distort or hide food items, reducing accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system with a camera that takes images from multiple viewpoints, including a first and second viewpoint for each shelf, with a camera moving device allowing vertical movement, and a communication device that transmits images only when changes are detected, reducing data transmission and maintaining accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If images are transmitted for all shelves from multiple viewpoints, then the accuracy of detecting food storage state changes is improved, but the communication load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different image transmission strategies to different shelves based on their individual characteristics. Only shelves with detected food storage state changes transmit images from multiple viewpoints, while other shelves transmit reduced images. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by concentrating communication resources on shelves that actually require detailed monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial action by transmitting complete multi-viewpoint images only for shelves where changes are detected, rather than for all shelves. For shelves without changes, reduced images are transmitted. This selective approach maintains detection accuracy where needed while reducing overall communication load.
2Ease of operation
If the camera moves at a constant speed to capture images, then the image taking process is simplified, but food items may be distorted or hidden reducing detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static constant-speed camera movement to a dynamic approach where the camera stops at specific shelves identified as having changes. The camera moves at constant speed between shelves but pauses to capture detailed images only where necessary. This dynamic operation maintains simplicity while improving detection accuracy by focusing on relevant areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary scanning of all shelves to detect food storage state changes before capturing detailed images. This preliminary action identifies which shelves require detailed imaging, allowing the camera to then focus its detailed capture effort only on those specific shelves rather than uniformly imaging all shelves.
3Loss of information
If images from multiple viewpoints are transmitted for all shelves, then the completeness of food storage information is improved, but the data transmission volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits complete multi-viewpoint image information only for shelves where food storage state changes are detected, while transmitting reduced images for shelves without changes. This local quality differentiation ensures information completeness is maintained where needed while reducing overall data transmission volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by transmitting full multi-viewpoint images only partially - specifically for shelves with detected changes - rather than for all shelves. This selective transmission maintains information completeness for relevant shelves while significantly reducing total data transmission volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator system capable of reducing decrease in the accuracy of detecting change in a storage state and reducing a communication load for transmitting images of the inside of a storeroom, which are taken at a plurality of viewpoints to the outside of a refrigerator is provided. To achieve this, the refrigerator system includes: a camera configured to take the images of the inside of the storeroom; a camera moving device configured to move the camera at least in the vertical direction; a communication device configured to transmit the images taken by the camera to the outside of a main body; and a change detecting device configured to detect change in a food-item storage state of each shelf based on the images taken by the camera. The camera takes images of each shelf at a first viewpoint and a second viewpoint. The change detecting device detects change in the food-item storage state of the shelf based on the image taken at the first viewpoint. The communication device transmits, for the shelf, change in the food-item storage state of which is detected, both images taken at the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint to the outside of the main body.