Refrigerator Voice Command Recognition During Speaker Audio Playback

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators do not effectively recognize user voice commands when a speaker is in operation, requiring alternative control methods which are inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator system with a microphone module, speaker module, and controller that operates based on user voice commands even when music is playing, allowing control of the speaker to adjust volume or stop music, and control a lighting device on the door to change color or brightness in response to voice commands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the speaker module plays music continuously, then user entertainment experience is improved, but voice command recognition fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice command recognition capabilityVSAvoidmusic interference with voice recognition

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary voice recognition before music playback begins. The controller detects voice commands in advance and processes them, ensuring that voice recognition functionality is established prior to the potential interference of music playback. This allows the system to maintain both music playback capability and voice recognition capability without conflict.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic voice recognition checks during music playback. The controller continuously or periodically monitors for voice commands even while music is playing, allowing it to distinguish between music audio and actual user voice inputs. This periodic detection mechanism ensures voice commands can be captured intermittently without being completely blocked by continuous music playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the speaker module stops music to recognize voice commands, then voice command recognition is enabled, but user entertainment experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice command recognition capabilityVSAvoidmusic playback continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary voice recognition before music playback begins. The controller detects voice commands in advance and processes them, ensuring that voice recognition functionality is established prior to the potential interference of music playback. This allows the system to maintain both music playback capability and voice recognition capability without conflict.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic voice recognition checks during music playback. The controller continuously or periodically monitors for voice commands even while music is playing, allowing it to distinguish between music audio and actual user voice inputs. This periodic detection mechanism ensures voice commands can be captured intermittently without being completely blocked by continuous music playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If the refrigerator provides multiple control functions (voice recognition, lighting control), then user convenience is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerator system integrates multiple functions including music playback, voice recognition, and lighting control into a single unified system. The controller serves as a central hub that manages all these different functions, allowing one device to perform multiple roles. This multi-functionality approach consolidates what could be separate devices into one integrated refrigerator system, managing complexity through consolidation rather than proliferation of separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that mediates between different input sources (microphone for voice, buttons for manual control) and different output devices (speaker module for music, lighting device for illumination). By introducing this central controlling component, the system can coordinate complex interactions between various subsystems without requiring direct complex connections between each component, thereby managing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12535990B2Refrigerator, home appliance, and conrtol method thereof

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A refrigerator includes: a cabinet defining a storage space, a door configured to open and close the storage space, a microphone configured to receive voice, a speaker configured to output audio, and a controller configured to, based on the microphone receiving a voice command and the audio being output, operate the refrigerator according to the voice command.