Patent Application
20240011703
The present subject matter relates generally to refrigerator appliances, and more particularly to refrigerator appliances having thermal determination systems and methods.
Refrigerator appliances stores foods and other others that may vary in quantity or quality over time. Such variation can lead to questionable edibility or spoilage, which if consumed, may be harmful to a user. Accordingly, systems and methods for determining the quality of food and items in the refrigeration appliance are desired and would be advantageous.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a refrigeration appliance and method for operation. The refrigeration appliance includes a cabinet forming a refrigeration chamber. One or more of a shelf or a drawer is mounted within the refrigeration chamber and configured to retain a foodstuff. A sensor is positioned in the refrigeration chamber, the sensor configured with a field of view toward the shelf or the drawer. The sensor is configured to obtain a temperature measurement at the field of view. A controller is configured in operable communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to determine thermal mass of the foodstuff over a period of time.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a controller for a refrigeration appliance. The controller includes a memory device and a processor, wherein the memory device is configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the refrigeration appliance to perform operations. The operations include determining a thermal mass of the foodstuff over a period of time.
Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for operating an appliance. The method includes determining, via a thermal imaging sensor, a thermal mass of foodstuffs at a refrigeration chamber within a field of view of the thermal imaging sensor over a period of time.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). In addition, here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined or interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “generally,” “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 10 percent margin (i.e., including values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value). In this regard, for example, when used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction (e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, such as, clockwise or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V).
Referring now to the figures,
Refrigerator doors 126, 128 are rotatably hinged to an edge of housing 120 for accessing refrigeration chamber 122. A freezer door 130 is arranged below refrigerator doors 126, 128 for accessing freezer chamber 124. In the exemplary embodiment, freezer door 130 is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted within freezer chamber 124.
Appliance 100 may include a dispensing assembly 110 for dispensing liquid water and ice. Dispensing assembly 110 includes a dispenser 114 positioned on an exterior portion of appliance 100. Dispenser 114 includes a discharging outlet 134 for accessing ice and liquid water. A user interface panel 136 is provided for controlling the mode of operation of the dispenser 114, such as for providing water, ice, or a type of type (e.g., crushed, non-crushed, cubed, clear, etc.).
Discharging outlet 134 is an external part of dispenser 114, and is mounted in a dispensing recess or recessed portion 138 defined in an outside surface of refrigerator door 126. Recessed portion 138 is positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice or liquid water and enabling the user to access ice or liquid water without the need to bend-over and without the need to access freezer chamber 124. In the exemplary embodiment, recessed portion 138 is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user. However, in other embodiments, the dispensing assembly 110 may be positioned within the appliance 100, such as within a chilled chamber thereof.
Operation of the appliance 100 is regulated by a control device or controller 300 that is operatively coupled to user interface panel 136, sensor 230, or both. The controller 300 may include one or more processors 314 and one or more memory devices 316. The one or more memory devices 316 may be configured to store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors 314, causes the appliance 100 to perform operations such as provided below. The memory device(s) 316 may be configured to store data corresponding to one or more signals, functions, charts, tables, schedules, or determined values such as provided herein.
Panel 136 provides selections for user manipulation of the operation of appliance 100 such as e.g., selections between whole or crushed ice, chilled liquid water, or other options. In response to user manipulation of the user interface panel 136, the controller 300 operates various components of the appliance 100. The controller 300 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout appliance 100. In the illustrated embodiment shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
As depicted schematically in
It should be appreciated that communications busses and secondary devices may correspond to any device that may be programmed to communicate controller 300 using one of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® , ZigBee®, or similar type of wireless communications technologies and networks while running a program that provides for user input. In this context, devices such as, but not limited to, smartphones, tablet devices, and standalone devices may be used to implement the present subject matter.
Referring to
Controller 300 may store a table, chart, schedule, graph, plot, or other dataset of thermal coefficient or plurality of thermal coefficients. The thermal coefficient may include a heat transfer coefficient forming a rate of heat transfer from the foodstuff to the air surrounding the foodstuff in the refrigeration chamber 122 per unit surface area per unit temperature difference. The thermal coefficient may particularly include a convection coefficient between the foodstuff and surrounding air in the refrigeration chamber 122. The plurality of temperature decay measurements obtained over the period of time are correlated to the field of view 231, or particular portions of the field of view, to generate the plurality of thermal zones. Controller 300 may further compare the plurality of thermal zones to the thermal coefficient and perform a trend analysis of the thermal over the period of time.
In certain embodiments, an initial period of time (e.g., time=0) may form an initial placement of the foodstuff in the refrigeration chamber 122, or particularly within the field of view 231. Subsequent points in time (e.g., time=n) may correspond to acquisitions of thermal images of the foodstuffs or other items from sensor 230 within the grid or field of view 231. Thermal coefficients may be calculated, estimated, measured, or otherwise determined based at least on position at the grid or field of view 231 and data corresponding to cooling states and obstruction levels. The cooling state may include a first operating mode of the appliance 100 in which a fan, a compressor, or other cooling device is operating to provide or flow cooling fluid (e.g., cool air) in thermal communication with the refrigeration chamber 122. Accordingly, the thermal coefficient is greater then a second operating mode of the appliance 100 in which cooling devices are non-operating. The obstruction level may correspond to an amount, volume, or density of items or other foodstuffs positioned in the grid or field of view. Greater levels of density of items in the grid may correspond to decreased thermal coefficients in contrast to lower levels of density of items in the grid. Still further thermal coefficients may be adjusted or modified based on the thermal zone. In various embodiments, foodstuffs or items positioned in drawers 121, or near cooling devices, or distal to cooling devices, may each include separate thermal coefficients.
In certain embodiments, controller 300 is configured to compare a thermal image to an image library and determine whether the thermal image corresponds to a solid, a liquid, a plasma, or combination thereof. The image library includes a corresponding offset coefficient based on the determination of the solid, liquid, plasma, or combination thereof, or of particular foodstuffs. Controller 300 may utilize the offset coefficient with the thermal mass determination to determine, measure, or estimate an average temperature of the thermal mass. When the image library determines the foodstuff or item is a solid, the offset coefficient may be utilized to estimate an average temperature of the thermal mass. When the image library determines the foodstuff or item is a liquid, the offset coefficient may be one (1) or approximately one (1), such as to provide little or no offset. When the image library does not determine whether the foodstuff or item is solid or liquid, a thermal gradient of a visual space may be assessed, such as via comparing the foodstuff or item to the surrounding air and comparing the thermal gradient between the surrounding air and the foodstuff or item to a thermal gradient threshold. When the thermal gradient is greater than the thermal gradient threshold, controller 300 determines the foodstuff or item to be substantially a liquid. When the thermal gradient is less than the thermal gradient threshold, controller 300 determines the foodstuff or item to be substantially a solid.
In various embodiments, controller 300 is configured to compare a change in thermal mass of the foodstuffs over the period of time to a threshold. Various embodiments of the threshold correspond to any one or more operating methods. In one embodiment, the threshold corresponds to a freshness determination. For instance, changes in thermal mass may be indicative of loss of liquid (e.g., dehydrated foodstuffs) or growth in mold or bacteria. Accordingly, exceeding the threshold may correspond to loss of freshness at the foodstuff.
In another embodiment, the threshold corresponds to de-frosting foodstuffs. For instance, changes in thermal mass may be indicative of change from solid to liquid or loss of liquid (e.g., water draining from meat, poultry, fish, etc. onto a plate at which the foodstuff rests). Accordingly, exceeding the threshold may correspond to de-frosting the foodstuff.
In still another embodiment, the threshold corresponds to power outage at the refrigeration appliance. For instance, changes in thermal mass such as described above, in addition to data corresponding to power outage at the refrigeration appliance, or, additionally or alternatively, fluctuations in temperature at the foodstuff, may correspond to caution, spoilage, or potential hazards at the foodstuffs. For instance, a power outage alone may not result in significant temperature change. Additionally, a power outage resulting in significant temperature change (e.g., temperature increase) may be followed by significant temperature change (e.g., temperature decrease), such as to obscure the change in temperature to a user. Controller 300 may be configured to compare the change in thermal mass of the foodstuffs over the period of time (e.g., the period of time including the power outage), including gaps or step changes in thermal mass resulting from differences due to the power outage. Accordingly, exceeding the threshold may correspond to warning, cautionary, or potentially hazardous conditions at the foodstuff.
In still yet another embodiment, the threshold corresponds to low contents at the foodstuff. For instance, the change in thermal mass may correspond to loss of contents (e.g., usage by a user) at the foodstuffs. The threshold corresponding to low contents, freshness, de-frosting, or power outage may distinguish from one another based at least on differences in the period of time over which the thermal mass changed, or the magnitude of change in thermal mass, or both.
In particular embodiments, controller 300 is further configured to generate a control signal when the threshold is exceeded. It should be appreciated that the threshold may include any one or more separate thresholds such as described above, and the control signal may include any one or more separate control signals corresponding to the separate thresholds. Controller 300 may further be configured to transmit the control signal to the user interface panel 136 operably coupled to the controller 300. The control signal may include a visual signal, audio signal, or combination thereof, configured to indicate to a user the threshold is exceeded, such as described above. The control signal may particularly indicate to the user a position, location, coordinate, grid, sector, or visual representation (e.g., map, image, etc.) corresponding to the foodstuff for which the control signal is generated.
Referring now to
Method 500 includes at 510 determining thermal mass of the foodstuff over a period of time. In various embodiments, method 500 includes at 520 obtaining a plurality of temperature decay measurements over the period of time, and at 530 comparing the plurality of temperature decay measurements to one another over the period of time.
In certain embodiments, method 500 includes at 540 generating a plurality of thermal zones corresponding the field of view to a plurality of temperature decay measurements over the period of time. In one embodiment, method 500 includes at 542 comparing the plurality of thermal zones to a thermal coefficient, and at 544 performing a trend analysis of the thermal mass over the period of time.
In still certain embodiments, method 500 includes at 550 comparing a change in thermal mass of the foodstuffs over the period of time to a threshold, and at 552 generating a control signal when the threshold is exceeded. In one embodiment, method 500 includes at 554 transmitting the control signal to the user interface panel. In various embodiments, the control signal is indicative of a freshness determination, of a de-frosting foodstuff, of a power outage at the refrigeration appliance, or of low contents at the foodstuffs, or combinations thereof.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
