Refrigerator having a camera selectively enclosed by a rotating mullion assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cameras in refrigerators, especially those with French-style doors, face condensation issues when the doors are opened, leading to foggy lenses and impaired image quality due to the cold environment, and require protection and easy servicing access.
Innovation Solution
A mullion assembly is pivotally coupled to one of the doors, allowing it to rotate and conceal the camera device between the mullion and the door edge when opened, protecting it from condensation and providing easy access for servicing by mounting the camera device on the hinge assembly vertically aligned with a receiving recess in the mullion assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the camera is mounted on the door or sidewall to be accessible for servicing, then ease of repair is improved, but the camera lens becomes exposed to condensation when doors are opened, worsening image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The mullion assembly is made movable between a deployed position (when door is closed) and a retracted position (when door is open). The camera mounted on the mullion thus dynamically changes its exposure to condensation based on door position, protecting the lens during door operation while maintaining accessibility during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mullion assembly acts as an intermediary structure between the door and the camera. It provides a mounting surface for the camera while also serving as a protective barrier that can be positioned between the camera lens and the condensation-prone environment when the door is opened.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the camera is enclosed to protect from condensation, then image quality is improved, but accessibility for servicing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective enclosure (mullion assembly) is designed to be movable rather than fixed. When servicing is needed, the mullion can be retracted or positioned to expose the camera, while during normal operation it remains in the deployed position to protect the camera from condensation.
3Reliability
If the mullion is fixed to protect the camera, then reliability is improved, but the complexity of the system increases due to additional moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The mullion assembly serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the camera mounting, acts as a protective barrier against condensation, and functions as a movable shield that can be positioned based on door operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera mounting structure is merged with the mullion assembly itself. Rather than having a separate protective housing and separate mounting structure, the mullion combines both functions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining protection reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator (2) includes a cabinet (4) having a storage compartment (12) with a door (28) pivotally coupled the cabinet (4) between open and closed positions. A mullion assembly (70) is operably coupled proximate to an edge (62) of the the door (28) between retracted and deployed positions relative to the door (28). The mullion assembly (70) includes a receiving recess (80) disposed on an inner edge (78) thereof. A camera device (120) is mounted on an inside edge (62) of the door (28) and vertically aligned with the receiving recess (80) of the mullion assembly (70), such that the camera device (120) faces into the storage compartment (12) when the door (28) is in the closed position. The camera device (120) is at least partially received in the receiving recess (80) of the mullion assembly (70) when the mullion assembly (70) is in the retracted position. The camera device (120) may also be mounted to a hinge assembly (110) that interconnects the mullion assembly (70) and the door (28).