Automated transfer of items between compartments of a smart appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current food preservation and preparation methods are inefficient, leading to excessive time and energy expenditure, as well as quality and energy usage issues due to improper storage and defrosting of food items in freezers and refrigerators.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that identifies contents in a refrigeration appliance's compartments, predicts the use time of food items, calculates defrosting time based on environmental conditions and item data, and automatically transfers items between compartments to optimize storage and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If items are frozen in the freezer compartment for long-term storage, then energy is conserved through centralized cooling, but excessive energy is consumed when manual defrosting is required and food quality deteriorates due to improper defrosting timing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically transferring frozen items from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment at predicted optimal times before they are needed. This advance transfer allows the items to begin defrosting in the warmer refrigerator environment, eliminating the need for last-minute manual defrosting and reducing both energy consumption and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring stored data about user consumption patterns, item characteristics, and compartment conditions to predict optimal transfer times. This feedback loop enables the system to learn from past behavior and automatically adjust transfer timing to minimize energy consumption while ensuring items are defrosted ready for use.
2Loss of energy
If items are kept in the freezer compartment beyond their use date, then energy is saved by avoiding repeated freezing cycles, but food quality deteriorates and waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting when items will be needed based on stored consumption data and automatically transferring them from the freezer to the refrigerator compartment at the optimal time. This ensures items are moved to the refrigerator just before use, maintaining food quality while avoiding unnecessary prolonged freezing that would waste energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by autonomously managing the transfer of items between compartments based on predicted usage patterns. The system monitors its own stored data about consumption habits and item characteristics, making independent decisions about when to transfer items, thereby optimizing both energy efficiency and food quality without user intervention.
3Ease of operation
If manual monitoring and transfer of items between compartments is performed, then flexibility in managing food storage is maintained, but excessive time and energy are spent on preservation and preparation tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically performing the monitoring and transfer of items between compartments based on stored consumption data. The system independently analyzes user patterns, predicts when items will be needed, and executes transfers without user intervention, completely eliminating the time and effort users would otherwise spend on these tasks while maintaining optimal storage management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical manual process of monitoring and transferring items with an automated computational system. Instead of users physically checking and moving items, the system uses data processing algorithms to predict optimal transfer times and automatically controls the transfer mechanism, substituting manual mechanical operations with automated intelligent control.
4Reliability
If items are defrosted too long in the refrigerator compartment, then complete defrosting is achieved, but energy consumption increases and food quality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting the optimal transfer time that allows items to be defrosted completely by the time they are needed. By calculating based on item characteristics and refrigerator conditions, the system transfers items at the precise moment that ensures complete defrosting without excessive time in the refrigerator, thereby minimizing energy consumption while maintaining food quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual judgment about defrosting timing with an automated computational system that calculates optimal transfer times based on stored data about item characteristics, refrigerator temperature conditions, and historical defrosting patterns. This substitution of mechanical estimation with intelligent algorithmic prediction achieves reliable complete defrosting while optimizing energy efficiency.
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 reduces waste, conserves energy, and maintains food quality by ensuring items are stored optimally, automatically transferring them between compartments based on predicted use times and environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the refrigerator compartment is configured to maintain the contents of the refrigerator compartment above the freezing temperature
Implementation Method 2
the freezer compartment is configured to maintain the contents of the freezer compartment at a temperature below a freezing temperature
Implementation Method 3
The freezer compartment is separated from the refrigerator compartment by a barrier having a sealable aperture
Data Source
AI summary
One example of a method comprises identifying contents of a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment of a refrigeration appliance. The freezer compartment is separated from the refrigerator compartment by a barrier having a sealable aperture. The method further comprises predicting a use time for a first food item located in the freezer compartment based on user data related to the identified contents of the freezer compartment; calculating an amount of time needed to defrost the first food item in the refrigerator compartment based on sensor data received from the refrigeration appliance regarding environmental conditions of the refrigeration compartment; determining a transfer time based on the predicted use time and on the amount of time needed to defrost the first food item; and outputting instructions to automatically transfer the first food item from the freezer compartment through the sealable aperture to the refrigerator compartment at the determined transfer time.