Side-by-side refrigerator with camera device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart refrigerators face issues with camera collision, inadequate installation, limited shooting angle, and dew formation due to improper placement of cameras in refrigerators, affecting service life and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The camera is mounted on a vertical beam within the refrigerator, which rotates with the door, preventing collision and allowing a wider shooting angle, and a dew removal heating device is integrated to prevent moisture buildup, ensuring clear images and improved aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the camera is installed on the front side of the upper wall of the refrigerator inner container, then the camera is easily accessible and visible to users, but the camera is prone to collision and damage by articles being taken and placed
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is moved from the front wall (2D surface mounting) to the door assembly (3D spatial relocation), specifically mounted on the inner surface of the door body or door rack. This dimensional change relocates the camera to a position that is both accessible during door operation and protected from direct collision with stored articles.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly acts as an intermediary structure that houses the camera, separating it from direct exposure to articles in the storage chamber. The camera is mounted on the door or door rack, which serves as a protective intermediary between the camera and the articles being handled by users.
2Measurement precision
If the camera is installed in a low-temperature and high-humidity environment inside the refrigerator, then the camera can monitor the storage compartment, but dew formation occurs on the camera
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is extracted from the cold storage chamber environment and relocated to the door assembly, which is partially exposed to ambient air. This extraction removes the camera from the harmful low-temperature, high-humidity environment that causes dew formation, while the camera still maintains monitoring capability through strategic positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The environmental parameters (temperature and humidity) experienced by the camera are changed by relocating it from the cold storage chamber to the door assembly. The door assembly experiences more moderate temperature and humidity conditions, preventing dew formation while maintaining the camera's ability to capture images of the storage compartment.
3Reliability
If the camera is mounted on the door rack, then the camera is protected from collision, but the camera housing support protrudes from the door rack surface
Solution Approach 1:
The door rack serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the door, offers a mounting surface for the camera, and acts as a protective barrier. By utilizing the door rack's existing structure and space, the camera can be mounted in a way that maintains surface flushness while leveraging the door rack's protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera housing is nested within or integrated into the door rack structure. The camera mount is designed to fit within the door rack's available space, with the outer surface of the camera housing aligned flush with the door rack surface, creating a nested appearance that maintains surface continuity.
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
This solution enhances camera stability, prevents collisions, eliminates dead angles, and maintains camera functionality by ensuring the imaging device and its components remain clear of dew and frost, improving user experience and recognition accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
the dew removal heating device comprises a heating element and a heat conducting plate. Two sides of the heat conducting plate are abutted against the front cover and the at least one imaging device respectively
Data Source
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AI summary
A side-by-side refrigerator with an imaging device (300) comprises a refrigerator body (100) in which a storage compartment is defined, an opening-closing component (200) provided with two oppositely disposed door bodies (210) and a vertical beam (220) on one of the door bodies (210) and configured to open or close the storage compartment, and at least one imaging device (300) mounted on the vertical beam (220).