Refrigerator and method of controlling thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a method to provide information on objects stored inside a refrigerator and their temperatures without opening the door, while also allowing for controlled cooling of specific items, as existing refrigerators lack the capability to efficiently display and manage this information.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator equipped with a camera, thermal imaging camera, and processor that captures images and thermal images of the interior, identifies objects using AI, displays their information, and controls the cooling system to concentrate cooling on specific items based on user commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the refrigerator door is opened to check contents, then users can see stored items, but cold air leaks and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the refrigerator interior and displays them on a display unit, creating a visual copy of the contents. This allows users to view stored items without opening the door, preventing cold air leakage while maintaining access to information about refrigerator contents.
2Reliability
If traditional refrigerators are used, then they can store food, but they cannot provide temperature information or selective cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical temperature monitoring with a thermal imaging camera that detects infrared radiation to measure temperatures. This substitution provides accurate temperature information for multiple items simultaneously without requiring physical contact or complex mechanical sensors for each item.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerator system performs multiple functions: storing food, capturing images of contents, detecting temperatures of stored items, and providing selective cooling. The integrated system combines camera imaging, thermal imaging, and cooling control into a single multi-functional device that enhances reliability while managing complexity through integration.
3Productivity
If uniform cooling is applied to all items, then the refrigerator maintains overall temperature, but specific items cannot be rapidly cooled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by directing cooling airflow to specific locations within the refrigerator based on detected item positions and temperatures. The system can concentrate cooling power on particular items that require rapid cooling while maintaining appropriate temperatures for other items, providing both fast selective cooling and flexible temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses thermal imaging data as feedback to continuously monitor item temperatures and adjust cooling airflow dynamically. Based on the detected temperature distribution, the controller modulates the cooling system to prioritize cooling for items that need it, enabling rapid selective cooling while maintaining overall temperature stability through adaptive control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to view the contents and temperatures of the refrigerator without opening the door, reducing cold air leakage and allowing for rapid cooling of specific items, thus improving energy efficiency and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
acquire information on the temperature of the identified object based on a thermal image that photographed the inside of the refrigerator through the thermal imaging camera
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a camera, a thermal imaging camera, a display, and a processor configured to acquire an image that photographed the inside of the refrigerator through the camera, identify an object included in the acquired image, acquire information on the temperature of the identified object based on a thermal image that photographed the inside of the refrigerator through the thermal imaging camera, and control the display to display information on the identified object and information on the temperature of the identified object.