Refrigerator Interior Imaging Triggered by Door-Closing Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users cannot remotely determine the contents of their refrigerators due to the lack of technology that can effectively capture and transmit images of the interior when the door is closing, a stable state with adequate lighting.
Innovation Solution
A device is installed in the refrigerator that includes a camera module, light sensor, and position sensors to take pictures of the interior when the door is closing, and an external processor that stores and sends these images to users upon request, utilizing a secure interface for image management and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a camera is installed inside the refrigerator to capture images of contents, then remote monitoring capability is improved, but power consumption increases due to continuous operation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The camera operates periodically only when the refrigerator door is closing, rather than continuously. The light sensor detects when the door is closing (light level changes), triggers the camera to capture an image, and then the system returns to sleep mode. This periodic operation dramatically reduces power consumption while still providing remote monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a light sensor to detect the door closing event as feedback, which then triggers the camera operation. This feedback mechanism ensures the camera operates only when necessary (when the door is closing and light is available), optimizing both information capture and power consumption.
2Loss of information
If the camera operates continuously to capture images, then image availability for remote viewing is improved, but battery life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous operation, the camera operates periodically based on door closing events. The system captures images at specific intervals (when the door closes) rather than continuously, preserving battery life while maintaining sufficient image availability for user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects door closing events using the light sensor and autonomously triggers camera operation without requiring external power management intervention. The refrigerator's normal operation (door closing) serves to trigger the imaging function, eliminating the need for separate power management mechanisms.
3Loss of information
If images are captured when the door is open, then content visibility is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to insufficient lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures images during the brief period when the door is closing, when ambient light is still available. The light sensor detects this transition and triggers the camera to capture the image at this optimal moment, rather than when the door is fully open (when lighting may be insufficient) or fully closed (when no viewing is possible).
4Device complexity
If all processing is done inside the refrigerator, then system simplicity is improved, but device complexity increases due to required components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the image processing functionality from the refrigerator and places it in a remote device (smartphone or computer). The refrigerator only needs to capture and transmit raw images, while all complex processing (object identification, list generation, ordering) is performed externally. This reduces the complexity of components needed inside the refrigerator.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary (remote processing device and network connection) between the camera and the final image processing. This intermediary handles the complex processing tasks externally, allowing the refrigerator itself to remain relatively simple while still achieving sophisticated functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for remotely monitoring the contents of a refrigerator, consisting of monitor and remote components. The monitor component is associated with a user and a refrigerator. The monitor component has a camera, light sensor, angular position sensor and a computer. The light sensor determines when the computer is powered on, the computer and position sensors determine when the camera will take pictures. The quality of the picture information is calculated, and the picture information is sent to the remote component. A user can request the picture information for a refrigerator that he is associated with.