Refrigerator Container with Integrated Substance Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inventory management systems lack accuracy in tracking the amount of substances stored in containers, leading to manual guesswork and inefficiencies, particularly in kitchen and laboratory environments where precise tracking is crucial for food consumption, food purchase, and chemical usage.

Innovation Solution

A container-based sensing and reporting system equipped with sensors, transmitters, and processors that determine and transmit the amount of substances within containers to a remote device, enabling real-time inventory management and notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual measurement and tracking of substance amounts is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of substance amount trackingVSAvoidcomplexity of inventory management system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container itself performs the measurement function through an integrated sensor system that automatically detects and reports substance amount without requiring external manual measurement. The container serves both as storage vessel and measurement device, eliminating the need for separate measuring tools and manual tracking processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods with an automated sensor-based detection system. The sensor electronically measures substance amount and transmits data wirelessly, substituting the mechanical process of physical measurement and manual record-keeping with an automated electronic system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If continuous monitoring of substance amounts is implemented, then reliability of inventory tracking is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of inventory trackingVSAvoidenergy consumption of sensor system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system operates periodically rather than continuously, activating to measure substance amount at specific intervals or when triggered by events such as container movement. This periodic operation maintains reliable inventory tracking while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the sensor to determine when measurement is needed. The sensor activates based on feedback signals from the control unit, such as when the container is moved or when inventory thresholds are approached, enabling reliable tracking only when necessary and reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If automated sensor-based tracking is used, then productivity of inventory management is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of inventory managementVSAvoidcomplexity of container system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into the container system itself: storage, sensing, data processing, and wireless communication are all integrated into a single container unit. This merging of functions improves productivity by eliminating the need for separate measurement and tracking systems while the modular design keeps the added complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11887047B2System with refrigerator and self-reporting container

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

A refrigerator is provided with a container for storing a substance and that has a sensing and reporting system configured to determine an amount of the substance within the container. The sensing and reporting system includes a sensor configured to sense the amount of the substance, a transmitter, and a processor in communication with the sensor and the transmitter.