Refrigerator Speech Recognition Triggered by Food Weight Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience and low accuracy when inputting information about food items in a refrigerator, as existing techniques require manual activation of speech recognition modes and inputting details through buttons or touch screens.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator system that senses weight changes or captures images to automatically trigger speech recognition mode, allowing users to input information naturally through speech without manual activation, using a weight sensing unit or imaging unit to detect food item additions or removals and update stored information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If speech recognition interface is provided through key buttons or touch screen, then information input capability is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to manual activation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation input capabilityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerator system automatically detects food item changes through weight sensing or image recognition and autonomously activates speech recognition mode without requiring manual user initiation. The system serves itself by monitoring storage chamber conditions and triggering the appropriate interface mode based on detected events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of food item changes using weight sensors or imaging units before the user needs to input information. By anticipating the user's information input need and preparing the speech recognition interface in advance, the system eliminates the need for manual mode switching and provides seamless interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If speech recognition mode is manually activated, then speech input functionality is improved, but utilization rate deteriorates due to complex activation steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech input functionalityVSAvoidutilization rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerator automatically determines when speech recognition should be activated based on detected food item changes, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate to speech recognition mode. This self-triggering mechanism increases utilization by making the feature accessible exactly when needed without additional user effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system preliminarily prepares the speech recognition interface by detecting food item changes and automatically transitioning to the appropriate input mode before the user attempts to input information, thereby increasing utilization rate by removing activation barriers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Extent of automation

If weight sensing or image recognition is used to detect food item changes, then automation level is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood item detection automationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces weight sensing units or imaging units as intermediary components between the food items and the control system. These intermediaries automatically detect changes and trigger speech recognition mode, providing high automation while managing complexity through specialized sensor modules that handle detection tasks independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances user convenience and accuracy by automatically guiding users to input information through speech recognition, increasing the utilization of the refrigerator's food management features.

Implementation Method 1

a weight sensing unit disposed in the storage chamber and configured to sense a weight of a food item to determine whether a food item has been received or taken out

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWeight sensing:

Implementation Method 2

an imaging unit disposed in the storage chamber to obtain a captured image of the storage chamber, configured to extract feature information from the captured image, and determine whether a food item has been received or taken out based on the feature information

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImage capture and feature extraction:

Data Source

PatentUS9373164B2Method for controlling operation of refrigerator by using speech recognition, and refrigerator employing same

Publication Date: 2016.06.21 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a memory for storing information on food stored in a storeroom; a weight detecting unit disposed in the storeroom for detecting the weight of the food in order to determine whether food is received or withdrawn; a controller for creating a request for confirmation information on the received or withdrawn food when the food is determined to have been received or withdrawn; a speech output unit for outputting the request created by the controller as speech; and a speech input unit for receiving the response to the output request as speech, wherein the controller analyzes the response and updates information on the food stored in the storeroom.