CN115585602A

CN115585602A - Cold insulation time prediction system

Info

Publication number: CN115585602A
Application number: CN202210756384.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 中川雅至; 中村智裕
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-05
Filing date: 2022-06-30
Publication date: 2023-01-10
Also published as: TW202305294A; JP2023008073A

Abstract

Provided is a cold insulation time prediction system capable of predicting cold insulation time during a power failure in advance. The refrigerator (10) comprises a cooler (20) for cooling the interior of the refrigerator, and the server control unit (41) obtains the predicted cold insulation time during power failure and notifies the user of the predicted cold insulation time based on the set interior temperature or the actually measured interior temperature of the refrigerator (10) when power failure occurs in the refrigerator (10). Thus, the predicted cold-keeping time during the power failure is obtained by the server control unit (41) and notified to the user, so that the cold-keeping state in the refrigerator (10) during the power failure can be grasped, and food management in the refrigerator can be performed during the power failure.

Description

Cold insulation time prediction system

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a cold insulation time prediction system.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses the following technique: when the power supply is restored after the power failure of the commercial power supply occurs, the temperature of the storage room is detected by the temperature detection unit, and when the temperature of the storage room becomes higher than a predetermined notification temperature, the power failure notification unit notifies the storage room of the fact.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-160422

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Provided is a cold insulation time prediction system capable of predicting cold insulation time during a power outage in advance.

Means for solving the problems

The cold insulation time prediction system according to the present disclosure is characterized by comprising a refrigerator including a cooler for cooling the inside of the refrigerator, and a control unit for determining, when a power failure occurs, a cold insulation time during the power failure based on a set inside temperature of the refrigerator or an inside temperature actually measured, and notifying a user of the cold insulation time.

Effects of the invention

The cold insulation time prediction system of the present disclosure determines the cold insulation time of the power failure by the control unit and notifies the user of the determined cold insulation time, and therefore, can grasp the cold insulation state in the refrigerator during the power failure, and can manage food in the refrigerator during the power failure.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a cold insulation time prediction system.

Fig. 3 is a graph showing an example of the predicted cooling time in the refrigerating room.

Fig. 4 is a graph showing an example of generating the predicted cooling time based on the actual measurement value of the interior temperature in the refrigerating room.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the touch panel of the terminal device according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of predicting the cooling time using the database based on the information acquired in advance in embodiment 1.

Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram showing another example of the case where the cold insulation time is predicted by the database based on the information acquired in advance in embodiment 1.

Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of predicting the cooling time using the database in embodiment 1.

Fig. 9 is a timing chart showing an example of the case where the refrigerator in embodiment 1 predicts the cooling time.

Fig. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the case where the terminal device in embodiment 1 predicts the cooling retention time.

Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing an example of predicting the cooling time using the measured values in embodiment 1.

Fig. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an example of predicting the cooling time using the database in embodiment 2.

Fig. 13 is a timing chart showing an example of predicting the cooling time using the measured values in embodiment 2.

Fig. 14 is a timing chart showing an example of predicting the cooling time using the measured values in embodiment 2.

Fig. 15 is a timing chart showing an example of the case where the refrigerator predicts the cooling time using the actually measured value in embodiment 2.

Fig. 16 is a sequence diagram showing an example of when the terminal device predicts the cooling time using the actual measurement value in embodiment 2.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Cold insulation time prediction system

10. Refrigerator with a door

11. Shell body

12. Refrigerating chamber

13. Freezing chamber

14. Partition wall

15. Door with a door panel

16. Drawer

17. Pipeline

18. Discharge port for refrigeration

19. Discharge port for refrigeration

20. Cooling device

21. Cooling fan

22. Air door

23. Compressor with a compressor housing having a plurality of compressor blades

30. Refrigerator control unit

31. Refrigerator communication unit

32. Cooling section

33. Sensor unit

34. Storage part of refrigerator

35. Temperature sensor for refrigerating chamber

36. Temperature sensor for freezing chamber

37. Ambient temperature sensor

40. Refrigerator management server

41. Server control unit

42. Server communication unit

43. Server storage unit

44. Cold insulation management database

50. Terminal device

51. Terminal control unit

52. Terminal communication unit

53. Touch panel

54. Terminal storage unit

55. Application program for cold keeping support

60. Power failure prediction server

GN global network

Detailed Description

(knowledge findings which form the basis of the present disclosure, etc.)

When the inventors thought of the present disclosure, there is known a technique in which after a power failure of the commercial power supply occurs and the power supply is recovered, the temperature of the storage room is detected by the temperature detection unit, and when the temperature of the storage room becomes higher than a predetermined notification temperature, the notification is performed by the power failure notification unit.

In the conventional refrigerator, the notification is given when the temperature in the refrigerator becomes high when the power supply is restored from the power failure state, but if the cooling time in the refrigerator is known at the time of power failure, the user can manage the food and the like in the refrigerator. However, the inventors have found a problem that it is difficult to predict the cooling time in the storage, and have conceived the subject matter constituting the present disclosure to solve the problem.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a cold insulation time prediction system capable of predicting cold insulation time during power outage in advance.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description may be omitted. For example, a detailed description of already known matters or a repetitive description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted.

In addition, the drawings and the following description are provided for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter recited in the claims.

(embodiment mode 1)

Hereinafter, embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

[1-1. Structure ]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator 10 according to embodiment 1.

As shown in fig. 1, the refrigerator 10 includes a box-shaped casing 11 having an open front surface. A refrigerating chamber 12 is formed above the casing 11, and a freezing chamber 13 is formed below the casing 11. A partition wall 14 is provided between the refrigerating chamber 12 and the freezing chamber 13.

Refrigerator 10 is provided with a horizontally-opening door 15 openably and closably provided at an opening portion of the front surface of refrigerating room 12. A drawer 16 for storing foods is provided in the freezing chamber 13.

Duct 17 communicating in the vertical direction is provided behind refrigerating room 12 and freezing room 13 of refrigerator 10.

A plurality of refrigerating discharge ports 18 communicating with duct 17 are formed behind refrigerating room 12.

A plurality of freezing discharge ports 19 communicating with duct 17 are formed behind freezing chamber 13.

A cooler 20 functioning as an evaporator is disposed at a position corresponding to the rear of freezing room 13 in duct 17. A cooling fan 21 is disposed above the cooler 20 of the duct 17. A damper 22 is provided at a position of duct 17 corresponding to partition wall 14, and adjusts the amount of cold air to be sent to refrigerating room 12 and cooled by cooler 20 by driving of cooling fan 21.

A compressor 23 is disposed at the rear upper portion of the refrigerating compartment 12. The compressor 23, a condenser not shown, an expansion mechanism, and the cooler 20 are connected by refrigerant pipes to constitute a refrigeration cycle.

The refrigerant is discharged from the compressor 23, thereby being cooled to a predetermined temperature, and exchanges heat with the air flowing through the duct 17 to generate cold air.

The cooling fan 21 is configured to circulate the cooled air to the refrigerating room 12 or the freezing room 13 to cool the refrigerating room 12 and the freezing room 13.

[1-1-2. Structure of Cold insulation time prediction System ]

Next, a cooling time prediction system 1 using the refrigerator 10 will be described.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the cool-retention time prediction system 1.

As shown in fig. 2, the cool keeping time prediction system 1 is a system in which a device connected to a global network GN controls a refrigerator 10 via the global network GN. The global network GN includes the internet, a telephone network, and other communication networks.

The cold insulation time prediction system 1 includes a refrigerator 10, a refrigerator management server 40, and a terminal device 50.

First, a control structure of the refrigerator 10 will be described.

The refrigerator 10 includes a refrigerator control unit 30, a refrigerator communication unit 31, a cooling unit 32, and a sensor unit 33.

The refrigerator control unit 30 is configured by a processor such as a CPU or MPU that executes programs, and includes a refrigerator storage unit 34. The refrigerator control unit 30 reads a control program stored in the refrigerator storage unit 34, and controls the refrigerator 10 by cooperating hardware and software.

The refrigerator storage unit 34 has a storage area for storing a program executed by the refrigerator control unit 30 and data processed by the refrigerator control unit 30.

The refrigerator storage unit 34 stores a control program executed by the refrigerator control unit 30, setting data relating to the setting of the refrigerator 10, and other various data. The refrigerator storage unit 34 has a nonvolatile storage area. The refrigerator storage unit 34 may include a volatile storage area, and constitute an operation area of the refrigerator control unit 30.

The refrigerator communication unit 31 includes communication hardware conforming to a predetermined communication standard, and communicates with the devices connected to the global network GN according to the predetermined communication standard under the control of the refrigerator control unit 30. The refrigerator communication unit 31 communicates with the refrigerator management server 40 in accordance with a predetermined communication standard. The communication standard used by refrigerator communication unit 31 may be a wireless communication standard (e.g., ieee802.11a/11b/11g/11n/11ac, bluetooth (registered trademark)), or a wired communication standard.

The cooling unit 32 cools each storage chamber of the refrigerator 10 by a mechanism for cooling each storage chamber of the refrigerator 10, such as the compressor 23, the cooling fan 21, and the damper 22, under the control of the refrigerator control unit 30.

The sensor unit 33 includes various sensors such as a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the refrigerator 10 and an opening/closing sensor for detecting the opening/closing of the door 15 and the drawer 16 provided in the refrigerator 10, and outputs the detection value of each sensor to the refrigerator control unit 30.

As shown in fig. 1, the sensor portion 33 includes a refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 35 and a freezing compartment temperature sensor 36 as temperature sensors.

Refrigerating room temperature sensor 35 is provided at a predetermined position of refrigerating room 12, and detects the interior temperature of refrigerating room 12.

Freezing room temperature sensor 36 is provided at a predetermined position of freezing room 13, and detects the temperature in the compartment of freezing room 13.

The ambient temperature sensor 37 is provided at a predetermined position outside the refrigerator 10, and detects the ambient temperature of the refrigerator 10.

The refrigerator control unit 30 controls the normal operation mode and the pre-cooling operation mode in which the temperature in the refrigerator 10 is lower than the normal operation mode.

In the normal operation mode, refrigerator 10 can perform cooling operation on refrigerating room 12 and/or freezing room 13 at the levels of "weak", "medium", and "strong", respectively.

For example, in the case of the normal operation mode, refrigerating room 12 is set to 5 ℃ in the case of "weak", 4 ℃ in the case of "medium", and 3 ℃ in the case of "strong". In the case of the pre-cooling operation mode, the refrigerating compartment 12 is set to 3 ℃.

For example, in the case of the normal operation mode, the freezing chamber 13 is set to-18 ℃ in the case of "weak", to-20 ℃ in the case of "medium", and to-22 ℃ in the case of "strong". The freezing chamber 13 is set to-28 ℃ in the pre-cooling operation mode.

Next, the configuration of the refrigerator management server 40 will be described.

The refrigerator management server 40 includes a server control unit 41 and a server communication unit 42.

The server control unit 41 is configured by a processor such as a CPU or MPU that executes programs, and includes a server storage unit 43. The server control unit 41 reads a control program stored in the server storage unit 43, and controls each unit of the refrigerator management server 40 by cooperating hardware and software.

The server storage unit 43 has a storage area for storing the program executed by the server control unit 41 and the data processed by the server control unit 41. The server storage unit 43 stores a control program executed by the server control unit 41, setting data relating to the setting of the refrigerator management server 40, the cooling management database 44, and other various data. The server storage unit 43 has a nonvolatile storage area. The server storage unit 43 may include a volatile storage area, and constitute an operation area of the server control unit 41.

The cooling management database 44 is a database that stores various information related to the operation control of the refrigerator 10. The cold insulation management database 44 stores therein the refrigerator ID, the predicted cold insulation time information of the refrigerator 10, and the like.

The server communication section 42 includes communication hardware in accordance with a predetermined communication standard, and communicates with a device connected to the global network GN in accordance with the predetermined communication standard by the control of the server control section 41. In the present embodiment, the server communication unit 42 communicates with the refrigerator 10, the terminal device 50, and the power outage prediction server.

As described above, the cold retention management database 44 stores the information on the predicted cold retention time of the refrigerator 10.

The predicted cold insulation time information is obtained by preliminarily storing, in a database, cold insulation times of refrigerating room 12 or freezing room 13 for refrigerating room 12 and freezing room 13 of each of refrigerating room 10 through experiments or the like, wherein the cold insulation time of refrigerating room 12 or freezing room 13 is obtained based on the interior temperature and ambient temperature of refrigerating room 12 or freezing room 13, and the storage amount of the inside of refrigerating room 12 or freezing room 13.

Fig. 3 is a graph showing an example of the predicted cooling time in refrigerating room 12.

As shown in fig. 3, for example, when the temperature in refrigerating room 12 is 5 ℃ and the ambient temperature in refrigerating room 10 is 16 ℃, 25 ℃, and 32 ℃, the cooling time corresponding to the storage amount of each refrigerating room 12 is obtained. In the example of fig. 3, it is understood that the cooling time is 8 hours when the storage temperature of refrigerating room 12 is 5 ℃, the ambient temperature is 25 ℃, and the storage amount of refrigerating room 12 is 50%, for example.

Similarly, a database is created by obtaining a predicted cold insulation time of freezing chamber 13 in advance based on the temperature inside freezing chamber 13, the ambient temperature, and the storage amount of freezing chamber 13.

The cold insulation time is a time until the temperature becomes 10 ℃ in the refrigerating chamber 12, and is a time until the temperature becomes-15 ℃ in the freezing chamber 13.

This time is set in consideration of the influence on the food in the refrigerator, but the reference temperature of the cooling time may be changed as appropriate. For example, the reference temperature of the cooling time may be set to be lower than 10 ℃ or higher than 10 ℃ in the refrigerating room 12. Similarly, the reference temperature for the cooling time may be set to be lower than-15 ℃ or higher than-15 ℃ in the freezing chamber 13.

In this case, in the present embodiment, the cooling time may be generated based on, for example, actual measured values of the interior temperatures of refrigerating room 12 and freezing room 13, in addition to the database in which the predicted cooling time information is created in advance.

Fig. 4 is a graph showing an example of the case where the predicted cooling time is generated based on the actually measured value of the interior temperature of refrigerating room 12.

In this case, first, the refrigerator control unit 30 detects the interior temperature in a state where the compressor 23 is not driven, for example, during stoppage of the compressor 23 or during defrosting, by the sensor unit 33, and transmits the detected value to the refrigerator management server 40 via the refrigerator communication unit 31.

The refrigerating compartment temperature information and the freezing compartment temperature information are detected temperature information of the refrigerating compartment 12 or the freezing compartment 13 detected by the sensor portion 33.

The server control unit 41 of the refrigerator management server 40 calculates the prediction of the increase in the internal temperature based on the received change in the detected value of the internal temperature. For example, the temperature rise in the interior after the prediction is made from the change in the detected value of the interior temperature every 5 minutes, and a temperature rise prediction curve is generated as shown in fig. 4.

The server control unit 41 obtains the cooling time in the case where the power failure occurs, based on the predicted cooling time stored in the cooling management database 44 or the predicted temperature increase prediction curve of the predicted cooling time calculated by the server control unit 41. The cool-keeping time is transmitted to the terminal device 50 described later.

Next, the structure of the terminal device 50 will be explained.

The terminal device 50 includes a terminal control section 51, a terminal communication section 52, and a touch panel 53.

The terminal control unit 51 is configured by a processor such as a CPU or MPU that executes programs, and includes a terminal storage unit 54. The terminal control unit 51 reads a control program stored in the terminal storage unit 54, and controls each unit of the terminal device 50 by cooperation of hardware and software.

The terminal device 50 has a cold-keeping support application installed therein in advance. The terminal control unit 51 reads and executes the cold insulation support application 55 from the terminal storage unit 54, thereby notifying the user of the predicted cold insulation time by the terminal device 50.

The terminal storage unit 54 has a storage area for storing a program executed by the terminal control unit 51 and data processed by the terminal control unit 51. The terminal storage unit 54 stores a control program executed by the terminal control unit 51, setting data related to the setting of the terminal device 50, the cooling support application 55, a user ID, and other various data. The terminal storage unit 54 has a nonvolatile storage area. The terminal storage unit 54 may include a volatile storage area and constitute an operating area of the terminal control unit 51.

The terminal communication unit 52 includes communication hardware conforming to a predetermined communication standard, and communicates with a device connected to the global network GN according to the predetermined communication standard under the control of the terminal control unit 51. The terminal communication unit 52 communicates with the refrigerator management server 40 according to a predetermined communication standard by the function of the cooling support application 55. The communication standard used by the terminal communication unit 52 is a wireless communication standard.

The touch panel 53 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel and a touch sensor provided so as to overlap with the display panel or be integrated therewith. The display panel displays various images under the control of the terminal control unit 51. The touch sensor detects a touch operation and outputs the touch operation to the terminal control section 51. The terminal control unit 51 executes processing corresponding to a touch operation based on an input from the touch sensor.

For example, alarm information based on weather information such as typhoon, power outage risk prediction information, and the like are transmitted as push notifications from the power outage prediction server 60 to the terminal device 50. The push notification may be transmitted to the terminal device 50 on a predetermined date, for example, no. 1 per month.

When the terminal device 50 has transmitted the alarm information or the like from the power failure prediction server 60, the terminal control unit 51 executes the cooling support application 55 to request the result of prediction of the cooling time to the refrigerator management server 40. After the result of prediction of the cooling time is transmitted from the refrigerator management server 40 in response to the request, the cooling times of the refrigerating room 12 and the freezing room 13 of the refrigerator 10 at the time of the power failure are displayed on the touch panel 53.

Instead of pushing the notification, the user may execute the cooling support application 55 to predict the cooling time.

[1-2. Actions, etc. ]

Next, the operations of the refrigerator 10 and the cold retention time prediction system 1 in embodiment 1 will be described.

First, with reference to fig. 5 and 6, an operation when the cooling time is predicted based on the database of the cooling management database 44 stored in the refrigerator management server 40 will be described.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display of the touch panel of the terminal device 50. Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of predicting the cooling time using the database based on the information acquired in advance.

As shown in fig. 6, in the present embodiment, the refrigerator 10 periodically measures the current internal temperature and the ambient temperature, and transmits the measurement results to the refrigerator management server 40.

The refrigerator management server 40 stores the transmitted in-refrigerator temperature information and the transmitted ambient temperature information in the server storage unit 43.

As shown in fig. 6, when a push notification such as alarm information is transmitted from the power failure prediction server 60, the terminal control unit 51 of the terminal device 50 displays a confirmation button for confirming the cooling time in the case of power failure on the touch panel 53.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 5 (a), when the push notification is transmitted, the terminal control unit 51 of the terminal device 50 starts the cooling support application. When the cooling support application is started, the current operation mode of the refrigerator 10 (in fig. 5, the operation mode is shown as the normal mode) and a confirmation button for predicting the cooling time are displayed on the touch panel of the terminal device 50.

When the user operates the confirmation button, the terminal control unit 51 causes the touch panel to display an icon for selecting the storage amount of the refrigerator 10, as shown in fig. 5 (b).

The user operates the selection icon of the storage amount, inputs the storage amount of the refrigerating chamber, and operates the "next" icon. Similarly, the user inputs the storage amount of the freezing chamber (not shown).

When the user operates the confirmation button, the terminal device 50 instructs the storage amount in the refrigerator input by the user to be transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40.

When the storage amount in the refrigerator is transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40, the server control unit 41 of the refrigerator management server 40 extracts a corresponding predicted cooling time from the database stored in the cooling management database 44 based on the transmitted storage amount information, the previously stored temperature information in the refrigerator, and the ambient temperature information, and transmits the predicted cooling time to the terminal device 50.

As shown in fig. 5 (c), the terminal device 50 displays the predicted cooling time transmitted from the refrigerator management server 40 on the touch panel 53.

The predicted cold insulation time may be displayed not only the time from the current time to 10 ℃ but also the interior temperature after several hours, for example, in the refrigerating room 12.

In this case, for example, when frozen plastic bottles or the like are put into the refrigerator compartment 12 or the freezer compartment 13, a suggestion to extend the predicted cold-holding time may be displayed.

In this case, for example, the user may select the volume of the plastic bottle, and the extension time of the predicted cooling time corresponding to the volume of the plastic bottle may be displayed.

Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram showing another example of the case where the cold insulation time is predicted by using the database based on the information acquired in advance.

In the present embodiment, the refrigerator 10 automatically acquires the storage amount in the refrigerator. That is, the refrigerator 10 regularly measures the current temperature in the refrigerator and the ambient temperature, automatically measures the storage amount in the refrigerator, and transmits the measurement result to the refrigerator management server 40. The storage amount in the storage is measured based on, for example, illuminance, weight, image, and the like in the storage.

When the user operates the confirmation button by the push notification, the confirmation operation information of the terminal device 50 is transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40.

When the refrigerator management server 40 has transmitted the confirmation operation information, the server control unit 41 of the refrigerator management server 40 extracts the corresponding predicted cooling time from the database stored in the cooling management database 44 based on the previously stored in-compartment temperature information, ambient temperature information, and storage amount information, and transmits the predicted cooling time to the terminal device 50.

The terminal device 50 displays the predicted cooling time transmitted from the refrigerator management server 40 on the touch panel 53.

Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the case where the cold insulation time is predicted by using the database.

As shown in fig. 8, when a push notification such as alarm information is transmitted from the power failure prediction server 60, the terminal control unit 51 of the terminal device 50 displays a confirmation button for confirming the cooling time in the case of power failure on the touch panel 53.

When the user operates the confirmation button, the terminal device 50 instructs the refrigerator 10 to measure the current temperature in the refrigerator, the ambient temperature, and the storage amount in the refrigerator, and transmits the measurement result to the refrigerator management server 40.

When the refrigerator management server 40 has transmitted the measurement result, as described above, the server control unit 41 of the refrigerator management server 40 extracts the corresponding predicted cooling time from the database stored in the cooling management database 44 based on the temperature information in the refrigerator 10, the ambient temperature information, and the storage amount information in the refrigerator, and transmits the predicted cooling time to the terminal device 50.

Fig. 9 is a timing chart showing an example of the case where the refrigerator 10 predicts the cooling time.

In the present embodiment, the refrigerator storage unit 34 stores a database of predicted cooling time information in advance.

As shown in fig. 9, in the present embodiment, when a push notification such as alarm information is transmitted from the power failure prediction server 60, the terminal control unit 51 of the terminal device 50 displays a confirmation button for confirming the cooling time in the case of power failure on the touch panel 53.

When the user operates the confirmation button, the terminal device 50 instructs the refrigerator 10 to measure the current temperature in the refrigerator, the ambient temperature, and the storage amount in the refrigerator.

The refrigerator control unit 30 extracts a corresponding predicted cooling time from the database stored in the refrigerator storage unit 34 based on the in-compartment temperature information, the ambient temperature information, and the storage amount information obtained by the measurement, and transmits the predicted cooling time to the terminal device 50.

The terminal device 50 displays the predicted cooling time transmitted from the refrigerator 10 on the touch panel 53.

In this case, as shown in fig. 6, the predicted cooling time may be extracted by the refrigerator control unit 30 by the user inputting the storage amount in the refrigerator 10 via the terminal device 50 and transmitting the storage amount information to the refrigerator 10.

In this example, the predicted cooling time can be obtained from the refrigerator 10 without using the refrigerator management server 40, and can be displayed on the terminal device 50. Therefore, even when there is no device connected to the global network GN such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), the predicted cool-keeping time can be obtained by only a short-range communication device such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

Fig. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the terminal device 50 when the cold insulation time is predicted.

In the present embodiment, a database of the predicted cooling time information is stored in advance in the terminal storage unit 54.

As shown in fig. 10, in the present embodiment, when a push notification such as alarm information is transmitted from the power failure prediction server 60, the terminal control unit 51 of the terminal device 50 displays a confirmation button for confirming the cooling time at the time of power failure on the touch panel 53.

The refrigerator control unit 30 transmits the measured in-compartment temperature information, ambient temperature information, and storage amount information in the compartment to the terminal device 50.

The terminal control unit 51 extracts the corresponding predicted cooling time from the database stored in the terminal storage unit 54 based on the interior temperature information, the ambient temperature information, and the storage amount information transmitted from the refrigerator 10, and displays the predicted cooling time on the touch panel 53.

In this case, as shown in fig. 6, the user may input the storage amount in the refrigerator 10 via the terminal device 50, and the terminal control unit 51 may extract the predicted cooling time based on the temperature information in the refrigerator, the ambient temperature information, and the input storage amount information transmitted from the refrigerator 10.

In this example, the predicted cooling time can be obtained from the refrigerator 10 without using the refrigerator management server 40, and can be displayed on the terminal device 50. Therefore, even when there is no device connected to the global network GN such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), the predicted cool keeping time can be obtained by using a short-range communication device such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

Next, an operation when the refrigerator management server 40 predicts the cooling time based on the actual measurement value will be described.

Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing an example of the case where the cooling time is predicted by using the actual measurement values.

As shown in fig. 11, when a push notification such as alarm information is transmitted from the power failure prediction server 60, the terminal control unit 51 of the terminal device 50 displays a confirmation button for confirming the cooling time at the time of power failure on the touch panel 53.

When the user operates the confirmation button, the terminal device 50 instructs transmission of the predicted cooling time to the refrigerator management server 40.

In the refrigerator management server 40, the detected value of the interior temperature in the state where the compressor 23 is stopped is transmitted from the refrigerator 10 to the refrigerator management server 40 in advance, and as described above, the server control unit 41 of the refrigerator management server 40 calculates the expected temperature rise curve of the predicted cooling time based on the interior temperature transmitted from the refrigerator 10, obtains the cooling time in the case where the power failure occurs at the current time point, and transmits the predicted cooling time to the terminal device 50.

In this case, as described above, the temperature in the refrigerator after several hours has elapsed may be displayed, and a suggestion to extend the predicted cooling time may be displayed.

In addition, the operation when the cooling time is predicted based on the actual measurement value is described, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

For example, the refrigerator management server 40 may transmit the detected value of the interior temperature of the compressor 23 in the stopped state, which is stored in advance in the refrigerator storage unit 34, to the refrigerator management server 40 when the user operates the confirmation button without acquiring the interior temperature information of the refrigerator 10 in advance. In this case, it is preferable that the latest detected value of the interior temperature, that is, the detected value of the interior temperature at which the compressor 23 is stopped, be transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40 before the user operates the confirmation button. At least 2 detected values of the in-refrigerator temperature transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40 are required. The detected value of the interior temperature transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40 may be more than 2. Further, the detected value of the in-bank temperature may be stored in a temperature sensor.

In addition, as in the case of predicting the cooling time using the database, the device for predicting the cooling time may be not only the refrigerator management server 40 but also the refrigerator 10 or the terminal device 50.

[1-3. Effect, etc. ]

As described above, the present embodiment includes the refrigerator 10 including the cooler 20 for cooling the inside of the refrigerator 10, and the server control unit 41 (control unit) that determines the predicted cooling time at the time of power failure based on the set inside temperature of the refrigerator 10 or the actually measured inside temperature when the occurrence of power failure is predicted in advance, and notifies the user of the determined cooling time.

Thus, the predicted cooling time at the time of power failure is obtained by the server control unit 41 and notified to the user, so that the cooling state in the refrigerator 10 at the time of power failure can be grasped, and food management in the refrigerator can be performed at the time of power failure.

In the present embodiment, the server control unit 41 (control unit) includes a database in which cooling time based on the set internal temperature and the ambient temperature is obtained in advance, and the server control unit 41 obtains the predicted cooling time at the time of power failure based on the database.

This makes it possible to easily predict the cooling time based on the database.

In the present embodiment, the server control unit 41 (control unit) acquires the actually measured interior temperature when the cooling of the refrigerator 10 is stopped, and the server control unit 41 obtains the predicted cooling time at the time of power failure based on the acquired interior temperature.

This makes it possible to predict the cooling time during a power failure based on the actual measured value of the temperature in the storage.

In the present embodiment, the server control unit 41 (control unit) acquires the ambient temperature of the refrigerator 10 and the storage amount in the refrigerator, and obtains the predicted cooling time at the time of power failure based on the temperature in the refrigerator, the ambient temperature, and the storage amount.

This makes it possible to predict the cooling time during a power failure.

In the present embodiment, the refrigerator 10 and the refrigerator management server 40 are provided with a terminal device 50 capable of communicating with each other, and the terminal device 50 displays the predicted cooling time obtained by the server control unit 41 and notifies the user of the displayed time.

This makes it possible to notify the user of the predicted cooling time at the time of power failure by using the terminal device 50.

(embodiment mode 2)

Next, embodiment 2 of the present invention will be explained.

[2-1. Structure ]

In the present embodiment, the refrigerator 10 and the cold retention time prediction system 1 have the same configurations as those of embodiment 1, and therefore the description will be given using the drawings used for the description of embodiment 1, and the same parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

While embodiment 1 is a system for predicting the cooling time before power failure, the present embodiment is a system for predicting the cooling time during power failure.

Similarly to embodiment 1, the refrigerator management server 40 is provided with a cold insulation management database 44, and the cold insulation management database 44 stores the predicted cold insulation time information of the refrigerator 10 in the database.

In embodiment 1, the server control unit 41 obtains the predicted cooling time based on the interior temperature information, the ambient temperature information, and the storage amount information of the refrigerator 10, but it is difficult to obtain these information during a power outage.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, a battery or the like that can be driven only by the sensor unit 33 and the refrigerator communication unit 31 of the refrigerator 10 is included, and the actual measurement value of the interior temperature is transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40 using the battery at the time of power failure. Then, the server control unit 41 predicts the cooling time from the cooling management database 44 based on the in-compartment temperature information.

Note that, as in embodiment 1, the cooling time may be generated based on the actual measured values of the interior temperatures of refrigerating room 12 and freezing room 13.

The server control unit 41 of the refrigerator management server 40 calculates the prediction of the increase in the internal temperature based on the received change in the detected value of the internal temperature.

In this case, in the present embodiment, since a power failure occurs, the refrigerator 10 is stopped at the current time point, and the temperature inside the refrigerator 10 cannot be obtained.

Therefore, when the cooling time is predicted based on the actual measurement value of the temperature in the storage, the cooling time may be predicted based on the actual measurement value obtained before the power failure. Then, as described above, the actual measurement value of the in-compartment temperature may be transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40 using the battery at the time of power failure.

In addition, the refrigerator management server 40 is in a state where it is impossible to determine whether or not the refrigerator 10 is in a power failure state at the time of power failure.

Therefore, for example, communication can be performed from the refrigerator management server 40 to the refrigerator 10 at a predetermined time, and it can be determined that there is no power failure when there is a response.

Similarly, when the cold-storage time is predicted based on the actual measurement value, it may be determined that the power failure has occurred when the actual measurement value of the interior temperature is not transmitted from the refrigerator 10 for a certain period of time.

The user may operate the terminal device 50 to transmit a notice of the power failure state to the refrigerator management server 40.

[2-2. Actions, etc. ]

Next, the operations of the refrigerator 10 and the cool-retention time prediction system 1 in embodiment 2 will be described.

First, with reference to fig. 12, an operation when the cooling time is predicted based on the database of the cooling management database 44 stored in the refrigerator management server 40 will be described.

Fig. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the case where the cold insulation time is predicted by using the database.

As shown in fig. 12, the refrigerator 10 regularly measures the current in-refrigerator temperature and the ambient temperature, automatically measures the storage amount in the refrigerator, and transmits the measurement result to the refrigerator management server 40.

The refrigerator management server 40 stores the transmitted in-freezer temperature information, ambient temperature information, and storage amount information in the server storage unit 43.

Then, when the user operates the confirmation button of the terminal device 50 during a power outage, the confirmation operation information of the terminal device 50 is transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40.

When the confirmation operation information is transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40, the server control unit 41 of the refrigerator management server 40 extracts the predicted cold insulation time corresponding to the indoor temperature information, the ambient temperature information, and the storage amount information transmitted from the refrigerator 10 from the database stored in the cold insulation management database 44.

At this time, since the power failure is occurring, new in-compartment temperature information, ambient temperature information, and storage amount information are not transmitted from the refrigerator 10, and therefore, the cooling time is predicted based on the in-compartment temperature information, ambient temperature information, and storage amount information transmitted immediately before the power failure.

As described above, for example, communication from the refrigerator management server 40 to the refrigerator 10 can be performed for a predetermined time, and a power failure can be determined when there is no response. Therefore, the refrigerator management server 40 stores the time of the power failure in advance, and calculates the remaining cooling time by subtracting the time from the time of the power failure to the time when the user operates the confirmation button from the predicted cooling time.

The terminal device 50 displays the remaining cooling time transmitted from the refrigerator management server 40 on the touch panel 53. And simultaneously displaying the temperature in the warehouse.

In this case, as in embodiment 1, the temperature in the refrigerator after several hours has elapsed may be displayed, and a suggestion to extend the predicted cooling time may be displayed.

Fig. 13 is a timing chart showing an operation when the cooling time is predicted by using the measured values.

In the present embodiment, for example, the following structure is adopted: the storage system includes a battery that can be driven only by the sensor unit 33 and the refrigerator communication unit 31 of the refrigerator 10, and transmits an actual measured value of the temperature in the refrigerator to the refrigerator management server 40 using the battery when power fails. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which an actual measurement value of the internal temperature can be transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40 by a temperature sensor used in power failure other than the refrigerator. At this time, the temperature sensor used in the power outage is driven by a battery, and has the same function as the sensor unit 33 and the refrigerator communication unit 31 of the refrigerator 10.

As shown in fig. 13, when the user operates the confirmation button of the terminal device 50, the user instructs the terminal device 50 to transmit the predicted cooling time to the refrigerator management server 40.

The refrigerator management server 40 calculates a predicted cooling time temperature increase prediction curve based on a previously transmitted detection value of the interior temperature during the power failure, and obtains the predicted cooling time.

Then, the refrigerator management server 40 calculates the remaining cooling time based on the predicted cooling time and transmits the calculated cooling time to the terminal device 50.

The terminal device 50 displays the remaining cooling time and/or the temperature in the refrigerator transmitted from the refrigerator management server 40 on the touch panel 53.

Next, an operation when the cooling time is predicted based on the measured value will be described.

Fig. 14 is a timing chart showing an example of predicting the cooling time from the measured values.

In the present embodiment, for example, the following structure is adopted: the refrigerator control unit 30, the sensor unit 33, and the refrigerator communication unit 31 of the refrigerator 10 include a battery that can be driven, and the actual measured value of the temperature in the refrigerator can be transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40 using the battery at the time of power failure.

Further, a configuration may be adopted in which an actual measurement value of the internal temperature can be transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40 by a temperature sensor used in a power outage other than the refrigerator 10. In this case, the temperature sensor used in the power outage has the same function as the refrigerator control unit 30, the sensor unit 33, and the refrigerator communication unit 31 of the refrigerator 10.

As shown in fig. 14, when the user operates the confirmation button of the terminal device 50, the terminal device 50 instructs the refrigerator 10 to measure the current internal temperature, and the internal temperature information including the measurement result is transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40. The in-house temperature information also includes a result of measuring the in-house temperature in the power outage before the user operates the confirmation button. At least 2 results are obtained by measuring the in-house temperature to be transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40. The result of measuring the in-house temperature to be transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40 may be more than 2. In this case, the refrigerator storage unit 34 stores the temperature in the refrigerator during the power failure. In addition, the sensor unit 33 may have a function of storing the temperature in the refrigerator during a power outage, without driving the refrigerator control unit 30.

When the refrigerator management server 40 has transmitted the interior temperature information, the server control unit 41 of the refrigerator management server 40 calculates a temperature increase prediction curve of the predicted cooling time based on the interior temperature information, obtains the predicted cooling time, calculates the remaining cooling time based on the predicted cooling time, and transmits the calculated remaining cooling time to the terminal device 50.

Further, when the user operates the confirmation button, the terminal device 50 may instruct the refrigerator 10 to measure the current temperature in the refrigerator and transmit the measurement result to the refrigerator management server 40. In this case, when the measurement result is transmitted to the refrigerator management server 40, the server control unit 41 of the refrigerator management server 40 calculates a temperature increase prediction curve of the predicted cooling time based on the previously transmitted detection value of the internal temperature during the power failure, obtains the predicted cooling time, calculates the remaining cooling time based on the predicted cooling time, and transmits the calculated remaining cooling time to the terminal device 50.

Next, the operation of the refrigerator 10 when the cooling time is predicted based on the actual measurement value will be described.

Fig. 15 is a timing chart showing an example of the case where the refrigerator 10 predicts the cooling time from the actual measurement value.

In the present embodiment, for example, the following structure is adopted: the refrigerator control unit 30, the sensor unit 33, and the refrigerator communication unit 31 of the refrigerator 10 include a battery that can be driven, and the battery can be used to transmit the remaining cooling time and/or the measured value of the internal temperature to the terminal device 50 during a power failure.

Further, a configuration may be adopted in which the remaining cooling time and/or the actual measurement value of the interior temperature can be transmitted to the terminal device 50 by a temperature sensor used in a power outage other than the refrigerator 10. In this case, the temperature sensor used in the power failure is driven by a battery, and has the same functions as the refrigerator control unit 30, the sensor unit 33, and the refrigerator communication unit 31 of the refrigerator 10.

As shown in fig. 15, when the user operates the confirmation button of the terminal device 50, the terminal device 50 instructs the refrigerator 10 to measure the current interior temperature, and the predicted cooling time and/or the remaining cooling time are/is obtained based on the interior temperature information including the measurement result.

The in-house temperature information also includes a result of measuring the in-house temperature in the power outage before the user operates the confirmation button. At least 2 results were obtained by measuring the temperature in the library. More than 2 measurements of the temperature in the library can also be made. In this case, the refrigerator storage unit 34 stores the temperature in the refrigerator during the power failure. In addition, the sensor unit 33 may have a function of storing the temperature in the refrigerator during a power outage, without driving the refrigerator control unit 30.

The refrigerator control unit 30 calculates an expected temperature rise curve of the predicted cooling time based on the actually measured in-refrigerator temperature to obtain the predicted cooling time, calculates the remaining cooling time based on the predicted cooling time, and transmits the calculated remaining cooling time to the terminal device 50.

The terminal device 50 displays the remaining cooling time and/or the interior temperature transmitted from the refrigerator 10 on the touch panel 53.

In this example, the remaining cooling time can be obtained from the refrigerator 10 without using the refrigerator management server 40, and can be displayed on the terminal device 50. Therefore, even when a device connected to the global network GN such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) cannot be used during power outage, the remaining cooling time and/or the temperature in the refrigerator can be obtained if there is a short-range communication device such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

Next, an operation when the terminal device 50 predicts the cooling time based on the actual measurement value will be described.

Fig. 16 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the case where the terminal device 50 predicts the cooling time from the actual measurement value.

In the present embodiment, for example, the following structure is adopted: the battery or the like that can be driven by the sensor unit 33 and the refrigerator communication unit 31 of the refrigerator 10 is included, and the actual measurement value of the temperature in the refrigerator can be transmitted to the terminal device 50 using the battery at the time of power failure.

Further, a configuration may be adopted in which an actual measurement value of the interior temperature can be transmitted to the terminal device 50 by a temperature sensor used in a power failure other than the refrigerator 10. In this case, the temperature sensor used in the power outage has the same function as the refrigerator control unit 30, the sensor unit 33, and the refrigerator communication unit 31 of the refrigerator 10.

As shown in fig. 16, when the user operates the confirmation button of the terminal device 50, the terminal device 50 instructs the refrigerator 10 to measure the current interior temperature, and the interior temperature information including the measurement result is transmitted to the terminal device 50.

The in-house temperature information also includes a result of measuring the in-house temperature in the power outage before the user operates the confirmation button. At least 2 results obtained by measuring the temperature in the library to be transmitted to the terminal device 50 are required. The result of measuring the temperature in the warehouse to be transmitted to the terminal device 50 may be more than 2. In this case, the refrigerator storage unit 34 stores the temperature in the refrigerator during the power failure. In addition, the sensor unit 33 may have a function of storing the interior temperature during a power failure when the refrigerator control unit 30 is not driven.

The terminal control unit 51 calculates a predicted temperature rise curve of the predicted cooling time based on the interior temperature information transmitted from the refrigerator 10, obtains the predicted cooling time, and calculates the remaining cooling time based on the predicted cooling time.

The terminal device 50 displays the calculated remaining cooling time and/or the calculated internal temperature on the touch panel 53.

[2-3. Effect, etc. ]

As described above, the present embodiment includes the refrigerator 10 including the cooler 20 for cooling the inside of the refrigerator 10, and the server control unit 41 (control unit) that determines the predicted cooling time based on the set inside temperature of the refrigerator 10 or the actually measured inside temperature when a power failure occurs, and notifies the user of the determined cooling time.

Thus, the remaining cooling time during the power failure is obtained by the server control unit 41 and notified to the user, so that the cooling state in the refrigerator 10 at the time of the power failure can be grasped, and food management in the refrigerator can be performed at the time of the power failure.

In the present embodiment, the server control unit 41 (control unit) includes a database in which cooling time based on the set internal temperature and the ambient temperature is obtained in advance, and the server control unit 41 obtains the remaining cooling time during the power failure based on the database.

In the present embodiment, the server control unit 41 (control unit) acquires the measured interior temperature during the power outage of the refrigerator 10, and the server control unit 41 obtains the remaining cooling time during the power outage based on the acquired interior temperature.

This makes it possible to predict the cooling time during power failure based on the actual measured value of the interior temperature.

In the present embodiment, the server control unit 41 (control unit) acquires the ambient temperature of the refrigerator 10 and the storage amount in the refrigerator, and obtains the remaining cooling time during the power failure based on the temperature in the refrigerator, the ambient temperature, and the storage amount.

This makes it possible to predict the cooling time during a power failure.

In the present embodiment, the refrigerator management server 40 capable of communicating with the refrigerator 10 is provided, the refrigerator includes a sensor unit for detecting the temperature in the refrigerator and a battery for supplying power to the sensor unit during a power failure, and the refrigerator transmits the temperature in the refrigerator to the refrigerator management server 40 during the power failure.

This makes it possible to predict the cooling time during a power outage.

In addition, as an example of the technique disclosed in the present application, embodiment 1 and embodiment 2 are described. However, the technique of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which changes, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like are made.

Industrial applicability of the invention

As described above, the cold insulation time prediction system according to the present invention can be suitably used as a cold insulation time prediction system that can check the cold insulation time at the time of power failure and perform food management in the warehouse based on the cold insulation time.

Claims

1. A cold-holding time prediction system, comprising:

a refrigerator including a cooler for cooling the inside of the refrigerator; and

and a control unit that, when a power failure occurs, obtains a cooling time during the power failure based on the set interior temperature of the refrigerator or an actually measured interior temperature, and notifies the user of the cooling time.

2. The cool keeping time prediction system according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the control unit includes a database in which a cooling time based on the temperature in the set storage is previously determined,

the control unit obtains the predicted cold insulation time during the power failure based on the database.

3. The cool-retention time prediction system according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the control unit acquires the temperature in the warehouse obtained by actual measurement during power failure,

the control unit obtains the cold insulation time during power failure based on the acquired temperature in the storage.

4. The cool keeping time prediction system according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the control unit acquires the ambient temperature of the refrigerator and the storage amount in the refrigerator, and obtains the cold insulation time during power failure based on the temperature in the refrigerator, the ambient temperature, and the storage amount.

5. The cool keeping time prediction system according to claim 2, characterized in that:

6. The cool keeping time prediction system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that:

comprising a refrigerator management server capable of communicating with the refrigerator,

the control unit is a server control unit of the refrigerator management server,

the refrigerator includes a sensor unit for detecting an interior temperature and a battery for supplying power to the sensor unit when power is off,

and the refrigerator sends the temperature in the refrigerator to the refrigerator management server when power is off.

7. The cool keeping time prediction system according to claim 6, characterized in that:

comprising a terminal device capable of communicating with the refrigerator and the refrigerator management server,

the terminal device displays the predicted cooling time determined by the server control unit and notifies the user of the predicted cooling time.