Refrigerator Two-Stage Sensor Control to Reduce Knock-On Malfunction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with opaque doors often malfunction when attempting to switch from opaque to transparent states based on user inputs like vibrations or sounds, leading to unnecessary power consumption and user dissatisfaction due to incorrect function execution.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system with a sensing unit comprising a first sensor to detect users and a second sensor that remains inactive until activated by the first sensor, allowing precise control over the knock-on and auto door functions, reducing malfunctions and power consumption by ensuring only intended user inputs trigger state changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door state is changed by sensing vibration or touch, then the user can check stored food without opening the door, but the door state may be changed by low-frequency sound or simple shock causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
A human body sensor is introduced as an intermediary between the user and the knock-on sensor. The sensor operates in two stages: first detecting human body proximity, then activating the knock-on sensor only after human presence is confirmed. This intermediary mechanism prevents direct triggering by environmental vibrations while maintaining responsive operation for legitimate user interactions.
2Speed
If the knock-on sensor is always active, then the response to user input is immediate, but unnecessary power is consumed due to frequent or incorrect state changes
Solution Approach 1:
The knock-on sensor's operational state is dynamically adjusted based on detected human presence. The sensor transitions between active and inactive states according to the two-stage detection process: inactive when no human is present, active when human presence is confirmed. This dynamic operation maintains fast response for legitimate users while eliminating continuous power consumption.
3Ease of operation
If the door switches to transparent state frequently, then the user can easily check food items, but unnecessary power consumption occurs due to repeated lighting activation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of human body proximity before activating the knock-on sensor and subsequent lighting. This preliminary action filters out spurious triggers from environmental factors, ensuring that lighting and door transparency changes occur only when a legitimate user is present and intends to access the refrigerator, thereby preventing unnecessary energy consumption.
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
The system effectively reduces the likelihood of malfunction and power consumption by ensuring that only valid user inputs activate the knock-on and auto door functions, enhancing user satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor located at the main body and configured to detect a user in a sensing range of the first sensor
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor configured to be maintained in an inactive state and to be switched into an active state to sense a user input for selecting at least one function related to the door
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a main body that defines a storage chamber; a door coupled to the main body and configured to open and close the storage chamber, first sensor disposed at the main body and configured to sense a user in a vicinity of the refrigerator, and a second sensor configured to sense a user input for selecting at least one function related to the door, and a control unit configured to, based on the basis of a sensing result from the first sensor, switch the second sensor to an active state to sense the user input, and execute the at least one function related to the door based on a sensing result from the second sensor.