Refrigerator with camera and control method for the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators require opening the door to check the interior, leading to inefficiencies in food storage management, such as redundant purchases and incomplete information about stored food, due to limited camera range and issues with dew condensation, power consumption, and picture quality.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a camera fixed to the ceiling that captures images of both external and internal food storage regions within the same picture, using a controller to separate and store images of different regions, and a display to show these images without the need to open the door, while minimizing camera shake and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple cameras are installed to photograph various storage regions, then the photographing coverage is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotatable camera mechanism that can dynamically change its photographing angle to capture images of different storage regions including the refrigerating compartment, freezing compartment, and drawer. This dynamic positioning capability allows a single camera to perform the function of multiple fixed cameras, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The single camera system is designed to serve multiple storage regions through rotation and angle adjustment, making it a universal solution that replaces multiple specialized cameras. The camera can photograph various compartments by changing its orientation, achieving multi-functionality with a single device
2Loss of information
If the camera operates continuously to capture food storage information, then the information freshness is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera operates periodically based on door opening/closing events rather than continuously. The control unit triggers the camera to photograph when the door state changes, ensuring information is updated at meaningful intervals while avoiding unnecessary continuous operation that would waste energy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses door state sensors to provide feedback that triggers camera operation. When the door is opened or closed, this state change is detected and feeds back to the control unit, which then activates the camera to capture updated images, creating an event-driven operation mode that balances information freshness with energy efficiency
3Loss of energy
If the door remains closed to reduce energy loss, then energy efficiency is improved, but the user cannot check the interior without opening the door
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates visual copies (photographs) of the refrigerator interior that can be viewed on external displays or mobile devices. Users can check the stored food by viewing these image copies without physically opening the door, thus maintaining the cold environment while providing convenient access to interior information
Solution Approach 2:
The camera and display system act as an intermediary between the user and the refrigerator interior. Instead of direct visual access requiring door opening, the intermediary imaging system transmits interior information to the user externally, eliminating the need to open the door for checking contents
4Loss of information
If the camera is positioned to photograph drawer interior, then the drawer region visibility is improved, but dew condensation degrades picture quality
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is extracted from the direct cold storage environment where dew condensation occurs. By positioning the camera in a location less susceptible to condensation while maintaining photographing capability through rotation and angle adjustment, the harmful condensation effect is avoided while preserving the ability to capture drawer interior images
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a storage compartment formed in a cabinet of the refrigerator by a fixed insulation wall, the storage compartment being provided with an access opening, a door rotatably provided to the cabinet to open and close the access opening, a drawer provided in the storage compartment, and a camera. The camera is fixed to a ceiling of the storage compartment to photograph both a first region for storing of food in an external space of the drawer in the storage compartment and a second region for storing of food in an internal space of the drawer. The refrigerator also includes a controller that separates, through a capturing time of a picture containing both the first region and the second region, a first region picture and a second region picture from the picture to individually divide and store the first region picture and the second region picture.