This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Application No. 10-2013-0044528, filed in Korea on Apr. 23, 2013, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field
This relates to a refrigerator and an operating method thereof.
2. Background
Refrigerators may supply cool air generated by a refrigeration cycle into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment to maintain various items at an appropriate temperature. Such a refrigerator may include a main body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, and a door rotatably coupled to the main body to open or close the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. Components of the refrigeration cycle including a compressor, an evaporator, and an expansion valve may be provided in the main body. Thus, cool air generated in the evaporator may be supplied to the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment to maintain items at a relatively low temperature.
The refrigerating compartment may be partitioned into a plurality of spaces by shelves to improve storage efficiency. For example, a storage chamber for storing meats, fish, and the like may be provided at an upper region of the refrigerating compartment, and a storage chamber for storing vegetables, fruits, and the like may be provided at a lower region of the refrigerating compartment. Directly opening the refrigerator door or the storage chamber to view the inside of the refrigerating compartment or the storage chamber to determine which goods are presently stored in the refrigerator may degrade energy efficiency and impact freshness.
The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the shapes and sizes of elements may be exaggerated for clarity. Also, terms used herein may be defined in consideration of functions according to embodiments, and thus the terms may be changed according to the intention or usage of a user or operator. Therefore, the terms may be defined based on overall content as broadly described herein.
For convenience of description, a bottom freezer type refrigerator is provided herein as an exemplary embodiment. However, embodiments are not limited thereto, and numerous other types of refrigerators having at least one partitioned storage space may be applicable to the embodiments.
First, a structure of a refrigerator, according to an embodiment, will be described in detail with reference to
Referring to
The dispenser 26 may dispense, for example, ice and drinking water in response to user manipulation in a state in which the door 20 remains closed. The dispenser 26 may be disposed on a front surface of the door 20.
The display 250 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display 250 may display information related to the refrigerator 1 or information related to goods stored in the refrigerator 1. The information related to the refrigerator 1 itself may include information related to an internal state or operation of the refrigerator 1 such as a temperature, humidity, and/or whether a refrigeration cycle operates. The information related to the goods stored in the refrigerator 1 may include information related to a state of the stored goods such as an image of the stored goods and whether the goods are damaged. The display 250 together with the dispenser 26 may be disposed a front surface of the door 20.
The input device 240 may receive a user input for adjusting a state or operation of the refrigerator 1 and a user input for displaying the information related to the goods stored in the refrigerator 1 on the display 250. The input device 240 may be provided on a side of the display 250 as a physical button key, or provided in an icon shape on the display 250 including a touch screen. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.
A hinge 14 may rotatably couple the door 20 to the cabinet 10. In certain embodiments, a sensor detecting an opening/closing of the door 20 may be disposed inside the hinge 14 or on a side of the hinge 14. The door 20 may be rotatably coupled to the side of the cabinet 10 to selectively open or close an opened front surface of the cabinet 10.
A plurality receiving devices such as shelves, drawers, and baskets may be provided inside each of the refrigerating compartment 30 and the freezing compartment 40 and each of the refrigerating compartment door 22 and the freezing compartment door 24 to receive items therein.
A camera may be disposed at an upper central portion A of the cabinet 10 defining the refrigerating compartment 30 to capture an overall image of the refrigerating compartment 30. A camera may also be disposed at the freezing compartment 40, as well as the refrigerating compartment 30. Embodiments are not limited to certain installed positions of the camera, and at least one camera may be provided.
An ice making chamber 28 may be provided at a back surface of one of the doors 20, for example, the door 22. The ice making chamber 28 may be an insulated space that is independent from the inside of the refrigerating compartment 30 to accommodate a first ice maker 100 and an ice bank 110 to make and store ice.
The ice making chamber 28 may be defined by a door liner defining a back surface of the refrigerating compartment door 22. The inside of the ice making chamber 28 may be opened and closed by an ice making chamber door 29. The inside of the ice making chamber 28 may communicate with the dispenser 26 to dispense ice through the dispenser 26.
The first ice maker 100 may make ice using water supplied by a water supply passage. In detail, the first ice maker 100 may receive water for making ice, and may cool the water for a preset time or to a preset temperature, to make ice. Then, the first ice maker 100 may automatically separate the ice and transfer the separated ice to the ice bank 110.
The ice bank 110 may be disposed under the first ice maker 100 to store the ices transferred from the first ice maker 100. The ice bank 110 may communicate with the dispenser 26 to supply the stored ice to the dispenser 26 when the dispenser 26 is manipulated.
A water tank 120 may be disposed inside the refrigerating compartment door 22. The water tank 120 may temporarily store water to be supplied to the dispenser 26, and may be disposed in, for example, a lower portion of the refrigerator compartment door 22. Other locations, within the door 22 or the refrigerating compartment 30 may also be appropriate.
A water filter 130 may be disposed in the inside of the refrigerating compartment 30. In the embodiment shown in
A second ice maker 140 may be disposed in the freezing compartment 40, for example, on an upper edge of the freezing compartment 40. The second ice maker 140 may receive the water flowing along the water supply passage to make ice and be exposed to the inside of the freezing compartment 40.
Referring to
To provide the user with information related to the goods finally stored in the drawer 37, the camera disposed at the upper end of the cabinet 10 may photograph a state in which the drawer 37 is maximally withdrawn from the drawer chamber 35. For example, the camera may photograph a plane of the inside of the drawer 37 at a point in time at which the closing of the drawer 37 begins, after the user has completely arranged the goods in the drawer 37. Since goods are not typically placed into the drawer 37 after the point in time at which the closing of the drawer 37 starts, an image photographed at the point in time at which the inserting of the drawer 37 starts may show essentially all of the goods finally stored in the drawer 37.
A functional structure of refrigerator, according to an embodiment, will be described in detail with reference to
Referring to
The detection device 210 may include, for example, an optical sensor, a mechanism sensor, a magnetic field sensor, a camera, and the like. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The detection device 210 may detect an opening/closing operation of the door 20 or an insertion/withdrawal operation of the drawer 37 using signals acquired by various sensors and images photographed by the camera according to the control of the controller 260.
The various sensors may be disposed, for example, on a wall of the cabinet 10, a wall of the door 20, or the inside of the drawer 37. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. Also, the various sensors may be provided in plurality.
The optical sensor may be a sensor for detecting whether light exists and for detecting intensity of light. The optical sensor may be a proximity sensor for detecting whether an object to be detected approaches the sensor. Thus, the optical sensor may detect the opening/closing operation of the door 20 or the insertion/withdrawal operation of the drawer 37 using the existence/non-existence and intensity of the detected light.
The mechanism sensor may be a sensor for detecting external contact and may include a switch sensor. That is, the mechanism sensor may detect external contact to detect the opening/closing of the door 20 or the insertion/withdrawal operation of the drawer 37.
The magnetic field sensor may be a sensor for detecting an intensity and direction of magnetic fields or lines, and may include a hall sensor using a hall effect. The magnetic field sensor may detect a change in intensity or direction of magnetic fields to detect the opening/closing operation of the door 20 or the insertion/withdrawal operation of the drawer 37.
The camera may be disposed at a position at which an internal image of the refrigerator 1 to be provided to the user is capable of being photographed. The camera may be a single camera, or may be provided in plurality. For example, the camera may photograph a pattern for determining whether the internal image is acquired according to the opening/closing operation of the door 20 or the insertion/withdrawal operation of the drawer 37. That is, the detection device 210 may process the internal image of the refrigerator 1 acquired from the camera to detect the opening/closing of the door 20 according to the acquired degree of the pattern, and may detect the insertion/withdrawal of the drawer 37 according to whether the pattern moves.
Alternatively, the detection device 210 may include an encoder that is provided in the drawer 37. The drawer 37 may include a wheel or other such mechanism so that the drawer 37 may be withdrawn and inserted. The encoder may detect a contact point thereof due to the rotation of the wheel or a position of a groove through which light is transmitted according to the rotation of the wheel using the optical sensor to detect movement of the drawer 37.
The detection device 210 may also detect a moving direction of the drawer 37 to detect the insertion operation or the withdrawal operation of the drawer 37. Alternatively, the detection device 210 may detect a number of revolutions the wheel using the encoder to detect an inserted or withdrawn degree of the drawer 37.
Hereinafter, simply for ease of explanation, the door 20 or drawer 37 to be opened or closed may be commonly referred to as a door. Alternatively, the door 20 and the drawer 37 may be distinguished from each other.
When the photographing device 220 is provided inside the refrigerator 1, the photographing device 220 may photograph the inside of the refrigerator 1 under the control of the controller 260. The photographing device 220 may include, for example, a camera for photographing. The photographing device 220 may photograph substantially the entire inside or a portion of the inside of the refrigerator 1 according to a position of the camera.
The storage device 230 may store the image photographed by the photographing device 220 under the control of the controller 260. The storage device 230 may provide the stored image to the controller 260 according to the control of the controller 260.
The display 250 may include a display part such as an LCD panel for displaying an image or a user interface (UI), based on the control of the controller 260. The display 250 may be disposed on the front surface of the refrigerator 1, e.g., the front surface of the door 20, or other location as appropriate.
The controller 260 may control individual operations or an overall mutual operation of the detection device 210, the photographing device 220, the storage device 230, the input device 240, the display device 250, and the communication device 270 of the refrigerator 1.
The controller 260 may determine a specific point in time that is just before the door is closed, using the opened or closed state or the opened degree of the door detected by the detection device 210. For example, the controller 260 may determine a specific point in time that is just before the door is closed using the point in time at which initiation the insertion/withdrawal operation of the drawer 37 is detected by the detection device 210.
When the specific point in time is determined, the controller 260 may acquire the internal image of the refrigerator 1 at the specific point in time at which the photographing device 220 photographs the internal image. The controller 260 may control the storage device 230 so that the acquired internal image of the refrigerator 1 is stored in the storage device 230.
The controller 260 may also control the display 250 to display the photographed or stored image on the display 250 in accordance with a pre-stored or user selection.
The controller 260 may control whether the communication device 270 externally transmits the image to the outside or receives the information from the outside.
The communication device 270 may transmit the image photographed by the photographing device 220 or the image stored in the storage device 230 to the outside or may receive information from the outside according to the control of the controller 260.
The communication device 270 may transmit the internal image of the refrigerator 1 at a preset period, or in response to an input by the user. Alternatively, the communication device 270 may transmit the internal image of the refrigerator 1 in response to an external request.
The communication device 270 may receive information related to a list of goods to be replaced or cooking recipes using the goods stored in the refrigerator 1 in response to the internal image of the refrigerator 1 from the outside. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.
Next, an operating method of the refrigerator, according to an embodiment, will be described with reference to
Referring to
Hereinafter, the operations S101 and S103 will be described in detail with reference to
Referring to
To determine whether the preset pattern has been recognized, the controller 260 recognizes a pattern, e.g., a repeated pattern, from the acquired image to compare whether the recognized pattern is the same as the preset pattern. For example, when the pattern from the acquired image is the same as the preset pattern, it may be determined that the preset pattern has been recognized. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The preset pattern may be preset by a business operator or user and previously stored in the storage device 230.
The pattern may be formed in a region in which the pattern is capable of being acquired in image form by the photographing device 220. Hereinafter, a pattern that is recognizable and traceable by the controller 260 will be described in detail with reference to
Referring to
When the pattern 39 is disposed on the upper end of the drawer 37, it may be anticipated that an obstacle does not exist at the upper end of the drawer 37 at a time at which the drawer 37 is closed, after the goods within the drawer 37 are completely arranged. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.
Referring to
The pattern 39 may be formed by, for example, alternating shapes and/or colors. For example, referring to
As described above, the pattern 39 having the repeated shape may have an advantage in that the pattern 39 is capable of being recognized and traced by the controller 260 even though a portion of the pattern 39 may be covered from the view of the camera 220. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the repeated shape of the pattern 39, and the pattern may have a plurality of colors, in addition to black and white. As described above, the pattern 39 may include an arrangement of elements sufficient to recognize whether the movable drawer 37 of the refrigerator 1 moves.
Referring again to
In operation S309, when the preset pattern is not recognized, the controller 260 may indicate failure of the pattern recognition to the user.
For example, when an obstacle obscures the pattern exists, the camera 220 may not acquire an image including the pattern, or the controller 260 may not recognize the pattern from the acquired image. In this case, the controller 260 may generate an indicator of failed pattern recognition, and information for successful pattern recognition such as removal of the obstacle, to the user through the display 250 in operation S309.
Then, when the pattern recognition is failed, the controller 260 may process a newly acquired and repeatedly perform the process of recognizing the preset pattern.
Referring again to
Detection of the closing operation of the drawer will be described with reference to
Referring to
Then, in operation S503, the controller 260 determines whether a start of the closing operation of the drawer 37 is detected. For example, the controller 260 may detect that the closing operation of the drawer 37 has started when the movement of the pattern 39 is stopped and then moves again in a reverse direction. Also, the controller 260 may know that the closing operation of the drawer 37 has started based on detection by the detection device 210, embodiments are not limited thereto.
An operation of the controller 260 that detects a closing operation of a drawer according to another embodiment will be described with reference to
When the end of the closing operation of the drawer is detected in operation S701, the controller 260 determines whether a final image has been successfully acquired through the pattern recognition in operation S703.
The control unit 260 may detect that the closing operation of the drawer 37 has been completed through the processing of the image and the detection of the detection device 210.
In operation S705, when the acquisition of the final image is failed, such as when the pattern is not normally recognized due to an obstacle, the controller 260 generates an indicator of the failure of the pattern recognition to the user.
The controller 260 may indicate the failure of the pattern recognition to the user through the display 250. This may guide the user to remove the obstacle and induce the insertion/withdrawal of the drawer so that the pattern may be normally recognized and the final image may be acquired.
Referring again to
Referring to
Then, in operation S905, the controller 260 determines whether a user input for displaying the final image is received.
For example, when the final image is acquired, the controller 260 may control the display 250 to display the input device 240 having, for example, a keyboard or an icon shape together with the information that the final image has been successfully acquired when the display 250 includes the touch screen, and may then determine whether an input for receiving a corresponding icon has been received. The input device 240 may include a physical key as described above in addition to the icon formed on the touch screen. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.
Then, in operation S907, the controller 260 displays the final image when the user input for displaying the final image is received. The controller 260 may display the final image using the display 250.
According to the current embodiment, the refrigerator 1 may recognize a pattern previously formed on the drawer to detect the movement of the drawer. The refrigerator 1 may acquire a final state of goods stored in the drawer in the form of an image using the camera disposed in the refrigerator. In certain embodiments, the refrigerator 1 may determine an optimum point in time at which the final storage state is capable of being acquired using the pattern formed on the drawer.
Hereinafter, various embodiments in which the latest internal image of the refrigerator that may be acquired by the above-described various methods is transmitted to a personal mobile terminal or a business operator's server and then utilized will be described with reference to
Referring to
In certain embodiments, the controller 260 may transmit the final image to the terminal 2 immediately when the final image is acquired. Alternatively, after the acquired final image is stored in the storage device 230, the controller 260 may transmit the image, stored as an event, to the terminal 2 at a preset period. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.
In operation S1105, the terminal 2 displays the received final image in response to a user's selection. For example, the terminal 2 may execute an application for receiving and displaying the internal image of the refrigerator in response to the user's selection, or may perform a multimedia service to display the internal image of the refrigerator.
According to the current embodiment, since the internal image may be confirmed using the mobile terminal, the current internal situation of the refrigerator may be remotely viewed even though the user does not have direct physical access to the refrigerator.
Referring to
Then, when a user input requesting that the current internal image of the refrigerator 1, i.e., the final image of the specific region of the refrigerator 1 is received from a terminal 2 in operation S1305, the terminal 2 transmits a final image request command to the refrigerator 1 in operation S1307. Then, in operation S1309, the controller 260 controls the communication device 270 so that the latest photographed and stored internal image of the images stored in the storage device 230 is transmitted to the terminal 2 in response to the final image request command.
According to the current embodiment, since the communication between the mobile terminal 2 and the refrigerator 1 is performed only in response to the user's request, the refrigerator 1 may more efficiently or economically operate. Hereinafter, although only the transmission of the image in response to the request is described, the image may be transmitted as the event as described with reference to
Referring to
Then, when a user input is received from a business operator's server such as a market server 3 in operation S1505 requesting that the current internal image be displayed, the market server 3 transmits a final image request command to the refrigerator 1 in operation S1507. In certain embodiments, the market server 3 may transmit the final image request command to the refrigerator 1 at a preset period without the user input.
Also, in operation S1509, the controller 260 controls the communication device 270 so that the latest photographed and stored internal image of the images stored in the storage device 230 is transmitted to the market server 3 in response to the image request command.
In operation S1511, the market server 3 receiving the final internal image of the refrigerator 1 analyzes the final image. The market server 3 may analyze the final image to check, or inventory, goods that are currently stored in the refrigerator 1 (based on analysis of the final image) and goods that are not currently stored in the refrigerator 1. Then, the market server 3 may extract information needed to provide an analysis of the goods that are currently stored the corresponding refrigerator 1 compared to goods that were previously stored in the corresponding refrigerator 1 (and have since been consumed and may require replenishment). In operation S1513, the market server 3 transmits a list of lacking goods that is extracted though the analysis of the final image.
Referring to
Then, when a user input is received from a business operator's server such as a broadcasting server 4 in operation S1705 requesting that the internal image be displayed, the broadcasting server 4 transmits a final image request command to the refrigerator 1 in operation S1707. In certain embodiments, the broadcasting server 4 may transmit the final image request command to the refrigerator 1 at a preset period without the user input.
Also, in operation S1709, the controller 260 controls the communication device 270 so that the latest photographed and stored final internal image of the images stored in the storage device 230 is transmitted to the broadcasting server 4 in response to the final image request command.
In operation S1711, the broadcasting server 4 receiving the final internal image analyzes the final image. The broadcasting server 4 may analyze the final image to check, or inventory, goods currently stored in the refrigerator 1. Then, the broadcasting server 4 extracts information that may be required for a particular service such as cooking recipes using the goods currently stored in the refrigerator 1.
In operation S1713, the broadcasting server 4 transmits information with respect to the cooking recipe using the goods currently stored in the refrigerator 1 through the analysis of the final image.
In operation S1715, the controller 260 displays the information, which is received from the broadcasting server 4, of the cooking recipe(s) using the currently stored goods on the display 250.
According to the current embodiment, the corresponding business operator may acquire an accurate understanding the internal situation of the refrigerator, including goods on hand/currently stored therein, that is located at a home or enterprise, to provide a particular service related to the refrigerator suitable for the corresponding home or enterprise. This may include, for example, recipe generation using goods currently stored, generating shopping lists, and other such services.
According to the embodiment, the latest image of the goods stored in the specific internal region of the refrigerator, such as the storage chamber, may be acquired to provide the current internal situation of the refrigerator to the user.
According to another embodiment, the user may remotely view and understand the current internal situation of the refrigerator, including goods currently stored therein, and receive the information related to goods required by the user from the external business operator.
Embodiments provide a refrigerator and an operating method thereof in which an insertion/withdrawal point in time of a storage chamber that is movably mounted in the refrigerator may be detected to acquire an image of goods stored in a corresponding storage chamber, thereby providing a current status of the corresponding storage chamber to a user.
Embodiments also provide a refrigerator and an operating method thereof in which a user may remotely acquire a current internal state of the refrigerator to transmit information related to the internal state of the refrigerator to an external business operator, and receive information related to items required by the user from the external business operator.
In one embodiment, an operating method of a refrigerator including a drawer and a camera may include recognizing a closing operation of the drawer, acquiring a final internal image of the drawer using the camera in a moment of time at which the closing operation of the drawer starts, and displaying the final image.
In another embodiment, a refrigerator may include an insertable and withdrawable drawer, a detection unit detecting a closing operation or an opening operation of the drawer, a photographing unit acquiring an internal image of the drawer, and a control unit controlling the photographing unit to acquire an internal final image of the drawer immediately at a time point at which the closing operation of the drawer starts when the closing operation of the drawer is recognized.
Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10-2013-0044528 | Apr 2013 | KR | national |