Refrigerator capable of sound input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerators with voice input capabilities face challenges in maintaining high speech recognition rates due to noise interference from components like compressors and exposure to dust, especially when microphones are positioned in visible or noisy areas, leading to reduced functionality and potential blockages.

Innovation Solution

The implementation positions the microphone module on a cap deco at the upper end of the door, with a protruding shape that is invisible to users, and incorporates a hole guide to prevent dust entry, while the speaker module is separated and positioned to minimize noise interference, enhancing speech recognition and feedback clarity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the microphone is arranged on the main body or front surface of the door to increase speech recognition rate, then speech recognition rate is improved, but the appearance is deteriorated due to exposed microphone hole

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech recognition rateVSAvoidappearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The microphone hole is nested within the recessed region of the cap deco, which is itself integrated into the door assembly. This nesting structure allows the microphone hole to be positioned in a location that is functionally accessible for speech recognition while being visually concealed from external observation, thereby resolving the contradiction between speech recognition rate and appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from a two-dimensional surface arrangement (placing microphone on front surface) to a three-dimensional recessed structure. By creating a recessed region in the cap deco and positioning the microphone hole within this depth dimension, the design achieves both visibility concealment and functional accessibility, resolving the appearance versus speech recognition rate contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If the microphone hole is arranged at a position invisible to the user, then appearance is improved, but speech recognition rate is lowered or noise is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveappearanceVSAvoidspeech recognition rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The cap deco's recessed region provides a localized environment with different acoustic properties compared to the external environment. This local quality change creates a microclimate that protects the microphone hole from external noise sources while maintaining visibility concealment, thus improving both appearance and speech recognition rate simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the microphone is positioned in visible areas, then speech recognition rate is improved, but dust or dirt may block the microphone hole

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech recognition rateVSAvoidmicrophone operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The recessed structure of the cap deco creates a preliminary protective barrier against dust and dirt particles. The recessed design prevents direct exposure of the microphone hole to the external environment, thereby preemptively preventing blockage while maintaining speech recognition functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Device complexity

If the microphone and speaker are arranged close to each other for design convenience, then device complexity is reduced, but speech feedback is input back to speech recognition causing noise interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearrangement structureVSAvoidnoise interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The door assembly is segmented into distinct functional regions: the cap deco contains the microphone hole for speech input, while the speaker is positioned in a separate lower region. This segmentation spatially separates the input and output functions, preventing feedback noise while maintaining design efficiency through modular integration into the overall door structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cap deco structure acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the microphone and speaker positions. By providing a recessed region for the microphone hole within the cap deco while positioning the speaker in a separate lower region, the design creates spatial separation that prevents feedback noise while maintaining overall structural integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11076212B2Refrigerator capable of sound input

Publication Date: 2021.07.27 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A cap deco which is installed at an upper portion of a door of a refrigerator. There is provided a cap deco, in which a portion of a door cover that defines an upper surface of the cap deco includes a microphone pocket in which a microphone is accommodated and a speaker pocket in which a speaker is accommodated and the microphone pocket and the speaker pocket are defined as separate spaces from each other. A microphone mount is installed in the microphone pocket and a speaker mount 514 manufactured as a separate part from the microphone mount 511 is installed in the speaker pocket.