Rotating Mullion Camera Housing for Refrigerator Condensation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cameras in refrigerators, especially those mounted on the doors or sidewalls of refrigerated storage compartments, face condensation issues when warmer humid air enters, leading to foggy lenses and impaired image quality, and require protection from the cold environment to prevent prolonged condensation.
Innovation Solution
A mullion assembly is pivotally coupled to the refrigerator doors, featuring a receiving recess where the camera device is housed when the doors are open, shielding it from external humidity and maintaining an unobstructed view when closed, allowing for easy servicing and reducing condensation on the lens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the camera is mounted on the door or sidewall of the refrigerated storage compartment, then the camera is accessible for servicing, but the camera lens becomes foggy due to condensation when warmer humid air enters the storage compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the camera protection function into two states: when the door is closed, the camera remains exposed for monitoring; when the door is opened, the mullion assembly rotates to enclose the camera in a protective recess, separating the camera from the harmful humid air environment only when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The mullion assembly is designed to be dynamically movable between two positions: a retracted position that allows the camera to be exposed for monitoring, and a deployed position that rotates to enclose the camera in a protective recess. This dynamic adjustment protects the camera from condensation during door opening while maintaining accessibility when closed
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the camera is enclosed to protect from condensation, then lens fogging is prevented, but the camera becomes less accessible for servicing
Solution Approach 1:
The mullion assembly rotates dynamically between deployed and retracted positions based on door state. When the door is closed and no condensation risk exists, the mullion retracts to expose the camera for easy servicing. When the door opens and condensation risk arises, the mullion deploys to protect the camera, thus providing accessibility only when protection is not needed
3Productivity
If the camera remains exposed in the cold environment, then continuous monitoring is maintained, but condensation takes a considerable amount of time to dissipate from the camera lens
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by detecting when the door opens and automatically deploying the mullion assembly to enclose the camera before significant condensation can form. This prevents the condensation problem rather than addressing it after it occurs, eliminating the time loss associated with condensation dissipation while maintaining continuous monitoring capability when the door is closed
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment with a door pivotally coupled the cabinet between open and closed positions. A mullion assembly is operably coupled to the door between retracted and deployed positions relative to the door. The mullion assembly includes at least one receiving recess disposed on an inner surface thereof. At least one camera device is mounted on an inside edge of the door and vertically aligned with the at least one receiving recess of the mullion assembly, such that the camera device faces into the storage compartment when the first door is in the closed position, and is received in the receiving recess of the mullion assembly when the mullion assembly is in the retracted position. The camera device may also be mounted to a fixed portion of a hinge assembly that interconnects the mullion assembly and the door.