EP3008412B1

EP3008412B1 - A refrigerator comprising an imaging unit

Info

Publication number: EP3008412B1
Application number: EP20140727808
Authority: EP
Inventors: Metin Kaya; Faik Emre Ozyuksel; Mustafa Arslan
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2013-06-11
Filing date: 2014-05-30
Publication date: 2018-01-03
Also published as: EP3008412A1; WO2014198554A1

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising an imaging unit.
It cannot be understood which products are inside the refrigerator without opening the door thereof and this situation causes time and energy losses.
In the state of the art, cameras are used in order to record the inside of the refrigerator; however, objects (pot, pan, cookware, etc.) standing in front of the cameras may cause image losses. Light sources disposed cannot be effectively used due to reflective materials inside the refrigerator and shadows occurring at the region where the image is desired to be taken. Separate installation of the camera and the light sources is another problem that can be encountered.
In the state of the art Patent Application No. US2003164754 , a refrigerator is disclosed, that enables the images of the foodstuffs inside the refrigerator to be taken by means of one or more cameras and these images to be watched on devices such as mobile phone, computer, television, etc.
European Patent Application EP 1 030 521 A1 discloses a refrigerator comprising a cabinet and a camera mounted to the door or an inner surface of the cabinet. The camera can take pictures of the cabinet contents each time the door is opened.
Japanese Patent Application JP 2001 317858 A discloses a refrigerator with a cabinet in which cameras are arranged on the door or a wall of the cabinet and light sources are provided on the ceiling of the cabinet.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator comprising an imaging unit that enables the images of the foodstuffs in the refrigerator to be taken without opening the refrigerator door and that enables the refrigerator to be remotely controlled.
The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention and explicated in the claims, comprises a compartment wherein foodstuffs to be cooled or frozen are placed and a housing that is arranged in the compartment.
The refrigerator of the present invention comprises an imaging unit that can be detachably mounted to the housing and that has at least one camera enabling the images of the area inside the compartment to be taken, at least one light source illuminating the area where images are to be taken and a body holding together the light source and the camera placed thereon. By means of the imaging unit, the camera and the light source are placed onto a single unit, thus a compact and easy-to-access structure is obtained. By means of the compact structure of the imaging unit, the camera and the light source can be connected to the same energy source. After being grouped outside the compartment, the imaging unit is placed into the compartment, thus providing ease of assembly. By means of the portable imaging unit, the position of the imaging unit can be changed so that the foodstuffs, the images of which are to be taken, are in the field of view. Thus, the image recording process is improved. The angles and power of the camera and the light sources can be controlled independently, thus the quality of the image recording process is improved.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit comprises a lid that is mounted onto the body and that enables the light source and the camera to remain between the body and the lid. The light source and the camera are placed into the body by means of the lid, thus the rigidity of the imaging unit is improved.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit comprises more than cut-out that is arranged on the lid and that is shaped in a form matching the shapes of the light source and the camera. The cut-outs enable the camera and the light source to be easily placed onto the lid. The cut-outs surround the outer walls of the camera and the light source and prevent the camera and the light source from displacing and making noise.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit comprises a supporter that is placed into the cut-out and whereon the light sources are borne. Accessing more than one light source via a single supporter provides ease of utilization and maintenance.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit comprises at least one gear that is situated on the supporter and that enables the light sources to move by being rotated. By means of the gear, the light source is rotated and the light source is enabled to focus on the areas the images of which are to be taken. Thus, the foodstuffs in the refrigerator are illuminated in an efficient manner.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator comprises a control unit that enables the camera and the light source to be moved and the angles thereof to be changed according to the status of the area the images of which are to be taken, and furthermore enables the cameras to work coordinately with each other and with the light source. By controlling the light source, reflection and image losses are prevented and image quality is improved. By controlling the cameras and the light sources separately, the power and/or the angles of the cameras and the light sources can be independently changed. When an object is placed in front of one camera that prevents the camera from taking images, the control unit activates the other camera.
In an embodiment of the present invention, by means of the box-shaped body, integral supply components (such as batteries, etc.), memory unit or cabled/wireless signal transmission/receiving mechanisms, etc. can be hidden inside the imaging unit.
Additionally, information about the foodstuffs inside the refrigerator can be remotely received by means of the compact and easy-to-access imaging unit without opening the refrigerator door. The position of the portable imaging unit can be changed so that the foodstuffs the images of which are to be taken are in the field of view. The quality of the image recording process is improved since the angles and power of the camera and the light sources can be controlled independently although the camera and the light sources are placed onto the same body side by side.
The model embodiments relating to the refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the imaging unit related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 - is the exploded view of the imaging unit related to an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Refrigerator
2. Compartment
3. Housing
4. Camera
5. Light source
6. Body
7. Lid
8. Cut-out
9. Supporter
10. Gear
11. Control unit
12. Imaging unit

The refrigerator (1) comprises a compartment (2) wherein foodstuffs to be cooled or frozen are placed and a housing (3) that is arranged in the compartment (2).

The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises an imaging unit (12) that can be detachably mounted to the housing (3) and that has at least one camera (4) enabling the images of the area inside the compartment (2) to be taken, at least one light source (5) illuminating the area where the images are to be taken and a body (6) holding together the light source (5) and the camera (4) placed thereon. By means of the imaging unit (12), the camera (4) and the light source (5) are placed close to each other, thus a compact and easy-to-access structure is obtained. The camera (4) and the light source (5) are mounted onto the body (6) outside the compartment (2), thereby providing ease of assembly. The imaging unit (12) is placed into the housing (3) after the assembly is completed. By means of the detachable imaging unit (12), the position of the imaging unit (12) can be changed so that the foodstuffs the images of which are to be taken are in the field of view. Thus, the image recording process is realized in an effective manner. By means of the imaging unit (12), the camera (4) and the light source (5) are fed through the same energy line. The quality of the image recording process is improved since the angles and power of the camera (4) and the light source (5) can be controlled independently although the camera (4) and the light source (5) are placed onto the same body (6) side by side.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit (12) comprises a lid (7) that is mounted onto the body (6) and that enables the light source (5) and the camera (4) to remain between the body (6) and the lid (7). The light source (5) and the camera (4) are placed into the body (6) after being mounted so as to remain between the lid (7) and the body (6), thus providing a rigid structure.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit (12) comprises more than cut-out (8) that is arranged on the lid (7) and that is shaped in a form matching the shapes of the light source (5) and the camera (4). The cut-outs (8) enable the camera (4) and the light source (5) to be easily placed onto the lid (7). The cut-outs (8) surround the outer walls of the camera (4) and the light source (5) that are seated therein and prevent the camera (4) and the light source (5) from displacing and making noise.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit (12) comprises a supporter (9) that is placed into the cut-out (8) and whereon the light sources (5) are borne. By means of the supporter (9), more than light source (5) is placed side by side and easily controlled.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit (12) comprises at least one gear (10) that is situated on the supporter (9) and that enables the light sources (5) to move by being rotated. The gear (10) is rotated manually and/or automatically. With the movement of the gear (10), the angle of the light sources (5) can be adjusted.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a control unit (11) that enables the camera (4) and the light source (5) to be moved and the angles thereof to be changed according to the status of the area where the images are to be taken, and furthermore enables the cameras (4) to work coordinately with each other and with the light source (5). By means of the control unit (11), the camera (4), of which the field of view is obstructed due to objects such as pots, pans, etc. in the compartment (2), is deactivated, and the camera (4) with a clear field of view is activated and/or the angle of the camera (4) is changed. In cases of insufficient illumination, reflection or shadowing, the control unit (11) adjusts the light intensity and the angle of the light source (5). In case more than camera (4) is used, the control unit (11) enables the cameras (4) to be operated coordinately and to take images in a continuous manner.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the body (6) is shaped like a box. By means of the box-shaped body (6), integral supply components such as batteries, etc., memory unit or cabled/wireless signal transmission/receiving mechanisms, etc. are situated in the body (6).

By means of the present invention, a compact and easy-to-access imaging unit (12) is realized. The assembly of the imaging unit (12) being realized outside the compartment (2) provides ease of assembly. The position of the imaging unit (12) can be changed so that the foodstuffs the images of which are to be taken are in the field of view. The quality of the image recording process is improved since the angles and power of the camera (4) and the light source (5) can be controlled independently although the camera (4) and the light source (5) are placed onto the same body (6) side by side. The camera (4) and the light source (5) are connected to the same energy line via the imaging unit (12). Consequently, ease of production and cost advantage are provided.

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising a compartment (2) wherein foodstuffs to be cooled or frozen are placed, a housing (3) that is arranged in the compartment (2), at least one camera (4) enabling images of the area inside the compartment (2) to be taken, and at least one light source (5) illuminating the area where the images are to be taken,
characterized by
an imaging unit (12) that is detachably mounted to the housing (3) and that has the at least one camera (4), the at least one light source (5) and a body (6) holding together the light source (5) and the camera (4) placed thereon.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the imaging unit (12) having a lid (7) that is mounted onto the body (6) and that enable the light source (5) and the camera (4) to be situated between the body (6) and the lid (7).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the imaging unit (12) comprising more than cut-out (8) that is arranged on the lid (7) and that is shaped in a form matching the shapes of the light source (5) and the camera (4).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the imaging unit (12) comprising a supporter (9) that is placed into the cut-out (8) and whereon the light sources (5) are borne.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the imaging unit (12) comprising at least one gear (10) that is situated on the supporter (9) and that enables the light sources (5) to move by being rotated.
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a control unit (11) that enables the camera (4) and the light source (5) to be moved and the angles thereof to be changed according to the status of the area wherein the images are to be taken, and furthermore enables the cameras (4) to work coordinately with each other and with the light source (5).
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the imaging unit (12) comprising the box-shaped body (6).