Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with built-in cameras struggle to capture stored objects clearly due to close focusing distances and fail to photograph storage pockets when the user is away, as the camera's view is obstructed when the door is closed.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a dual-door configuration and a driving device that automatically opens and closes the doors, featuring multiple cameras on each door to capture the interior and storage pockets, with an information processing device combining and optimizing the images for clear photography, even when the user is remote.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the camera is installed inside the closed door, then the refrigerator interior can be photographed remotely, but the focus cannot be properly adjusted when objects are placed at the front area
Solution Approach 1:
The door is made movable between closed and open positions, allowing the camera to dynamically adjust its photographing distance. When the door opens, the camera moves away from front-area objects, increasing the photographing distance and enabling proper focus adjustment.
2Loss of information
If the door remains closed, then the camera can photograph the refrigerator interior, but storage pockets cannot be photographed when the user is away
Solution Approach 1:
The door's movable configuration allows it to open and close automatically. When open, the camera can photograph storage pockets on the door; when closed, it photographs the refrigerator interior, providing versatile photography coverage for different states.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving device automatically opens the door in advance when photography is needed, allowing the camera to capture storage pocket images before the user arrives, thus preventing loss of storage state information.
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are installed on each door, then both storage pockets and interior can be photographed clearly, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each camera is designed to serve multiple functions: photographing storage pockets when the door is open and photographing the refrigerator interior when the door is closed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated cameras for each purpose.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the door's own movement (open/close actions) to automatically adjust the camera's photographing conditions. The door opening/closing serves dual purposes: providing access and adjusting camera-to-object distance for proper focus.
Data Source
AI summary
A door driving system and a refrigerator having the door driving system according to the present invention are provided with a motor, a power transmitting device for transmitting the power generated by the motor to the hinge, and an auxiliary device for receiving the power generated by the motor and generating an auxiliary force to move a door positioned in a closing position in an opening direction, so that the torque to be applied to the hinge of the door for opening and closing the door may be reduced.