Refrigerator Sub-Door Camera Assembly to Reduce Cold Air Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators require opening the main door to check the contents of separate storage spaces, leading to unnecessary cold air leakage and exposure of food when the door is opened, and transparent door surfaces compromise insulation.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design with a main door and a sub door that allows for camera-assisted viewing of internal storage spaces through a panel assembly, enabling closed-door access to stored food items and minimizing camera exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the entire refrigerator door is opened to check stored food, then the user can identify desired food, but unnecessary cold air leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the storage space contents and displays them on a display unit, creating a visual copy of the internal contents. This allows users to identify stored food without physically opening the door, thus preventing cold air leakage while maintaining the ability to locate desired items.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a camera and display system as an intermediary between the user and the stored food. Instead of direct visual access requiring door opening, the intermediary imaging system provides indirect visual access, enabling food identification while the door remains closed and sealed.
2Loss of information
If a transparent door surface is used to view stored food, then food can be checked without opening the door, but insulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the door transparent to achieve visual access, the patent uses a camera to create digital copies (images) of the storage space contents. This approach maintains the door's opaque, insulating material while providing visual access through captured and displayed images, thus preserving thermal insulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical solution of transparent door material with an electronic imaging system. The camera and display system substitutes for the need for transparent materials, achieving the same functional goal (visual access) through a different technological approach that doesn't compromise insulation.
3Loss of energy
If a sub door is added to access separate storage space, then cold air leakage is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the camera-display copying mechanism to the sub-door configuration, allowing users to view contents of the separate storage space through captured images displayed on the display unit. This enables access to and identification of items in the sub-door storage space without opening either the sub-door or main door, minimizing cold air leakage while managing structural complexity through intelligent design.
4Ease of operation
If the main door is opened to access separate storage space, then food can be retrieved, but food exposure to outside occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the camera-display system to show users what is stored in the separate storage space before opening the door. Users can identify and locate desired food items through the displayed images, opening the door only when necessary and directly to the specific item rather than browsing through all contents. This reduces the time the door is open and minimizes food exposure to external environment.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes: a cabinet having a first storage space; a main door configured to open and close the first storage space; a second storage space defined in the main door; an opening defined in the main door, a sub door configured to open and close the opening and disposed in front of the main door; and a camera assembly provided at the sub door to photograph the second storage space in a state in which the sub door is opened.