Wine storage apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wine storage apparatuses face challenges in maintaining optimal conditions as frequent opening to check wine information leads to temperature fluctuations, causing the wine to rapidly ripen.

Innovation Solution

A wine storage apparatus with a housing, door, display, rack, and sensors that allow for minimal door opening by using pressure, optical, or image sensors to detect wine presence and quantity, and a processor to display guide information on a touch panel without opening the door.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the door is frequently opened to check wine information, then the user can obtain wine storage information, but the inner temperature of the wine cellar changes causing the wine to rapidly ripen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewine storage informationVSAvoidinner temperature of wine cellar
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A display device is introduced as an intermediary between the user and the wine storage environment. The display shows wine information (storage period, temperature, humidity) without requiring direct access to the interior, thus mediating the information transfer while preserving the sealed environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical action of opening the door to visually check wine is replaced by an electronic display system. Sensors inside the cellar detect wine presence and storage conditions, and this data is transmitted to the display, substituting the mechanical door-opening action with an electronic information delivery system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If the door is frequently opened to check wine information, then the user can obtain wine storage information, but the stored wine rapidly ripens due to temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewine storage informationVSAvoidwine storage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display device serves as an intermediary that provides wine information without compromising storage quality. By showing storage period, temperature, and humidity data on the display, the system enables information access while maintaining the sealed environment that preserves wine quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical door-opening action is replaced by an electronic display system that delivers wine information. This substitution eliminates the physical disturbance to the storage environment, thereby maintaining wine storage quality while providing the needed information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If sensors and display systems are added to enable door-free monitoring, then wine storage conditions can be monitored with minimal door opening, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor-free monitoringVSAvoidsensor and display system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device performs multiple functions: it shows wine information (storage period, temperature, humidity), indicates wine presence/absence, and provides user guidance. By consolidating these functions into a single display interface, the system achieves ease of operation without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects wine placement using sensors and updates the display without user intervention. The processor automatically calculates storage period based on insertion time, and the display self-updates with current temperature and humidity readings, reducing the need for manual monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables efficient monitoring of wine storage conditions with minimal disruption to the environment, allowing for precise tracking of wine quantities and conditions without opening the door, thus maintaining optimal storage conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor may be configured to obtain information about whether a bottle of wine is stored on the rack, based on detection of a pressure sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

The sensor may be configured to obtain information about whether a bottle of wine is stored on the rack, based on detection of a pressure sensor, an optical sensor or an image sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

The processor may be configured to identify a liquid level of in the bottle of wine stored on the rack through the sensor comprising an image sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImage capture: Photography

Data Source

PatentEP3677862A1Wine storage apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3677862A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3677862A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3677862A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wine storage apparatus is provided. The wine storage apparatus includes a housing, a door configured to open and close the housing and including a display, a rack (500) provided inside the housing and configured to hold a bottle of wine, a sensor (600, 601) configured to obtain information about whether a bottle of wine is stored on the rack (500), and a processor configured to identify whether the bottle of wine is stored on the rack (500) based on the information, and control the display to display guide information of the bottle of wine based on an identification result.