JP2014070740A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of improving accuracy when foods are discriminated or their storage amount is confirmed without applying any enormous cost.SOLUTION: A refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of this invention is operated such that a storage amount of specified foods that are stored at a specified position that is a prescribed set position within the refrigerator is taken, whether or not the taken storage amount of the specified foods is more than a prescribed reference storage amount is determined and information concerning a lacked food that is a specified food determined to be less than the reference storage amount is reported.

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been proposed to take an image of the inside of a warehouse, acquire a storage amount of foodstuffs, and order a missing foodstuff (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, in order to improve the analysis power when imaging the interior, that is, the accuracy in determining the ingredients and acquiring the storage amount, it takes a lot of labor and manufacturing costs to develop image processing software There is. In addition, since there are many types of foods in the first place, it is difficult to construct a database that stores all the information on the target foods, and new databases and discontinued products are also released, so the database is updated. The current situation is that it lacks practicality, such as the need for operating costs.

JP 2002-243335 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of improving the accuracy when determining foodstuffs or acquiring the storage amount without incurring enormous costs.

  The refrigerator according to the embodiment includes a storage amount acquisition unit that acquires a storage amount of a specific ingredient that is stored in a specific position that is a preset position in the warehouse, and a storage unit that acquires the specific ingredient acquired by the storage amount acquisition unit. A setting unit that sets a reference storage amount that is a reference value for the storage amount, and a determination unit that determines whether the storage amount of the specific food acquired by the storage amount acquisition unit is equal to or greater than the reference storage amount set by the setting unit And a notifying means for notifying information relating to a shortage food that is a specific food determined to be less than the reference storage amount by the determination means.

The figure which shows typically the external appearance of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment typically. The figure which shows typically the structure of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows typically the structure of the specific position of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows typically the electric constitution of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the flow of the storage amount confirmation process by the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the alerting | reporting by the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment 1 The figure 2 which shows an example of the alerting | reporting by the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment The figure which shows an example of the alerting | reporting by the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment 3 The figure which shows typically the structure of the specific position of the refrigerator of 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, refrigerators according to a plurality of embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure which is common in each embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the refrigerator according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator room 3, a vegetable room 4, an ice making room 5, and an upper freezer room 6, which are storage rooms for storing ingredients in the main body 2 in order from the top. And a lower freezer compartment 7 are provided. The refrigerator compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 4, and the ice making compartment 5 and the upper freezer compartment 6 are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator compartment 3 is opened and closed by a so-called single-open door 3a, and the vegetable compartment 4, the ice making compartment 5, the upper freezer compartment 6, and the lower freezer compartment 7 are a drawer-type door 4a and door 5a. The door 6a and the door 7a are respectively opened and closed. The above-described configuration of the storage chamber is an example, and the arrangement order of the storage chambers may be different. For example, the upper freezing chamber 6 may be a switching chamber capable of switching between refrigeration and freezing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, at the rear of the refrigerating room 3, a refrigerating cooler 8 for the refrigerating room 3 and the vegetable room 4, and a refrigerating fan 9 for circulating the air cooled by the refrigerating cooler 8, Is provided. Behind the ice making chamber 5 is a freezing cooler 10 for the ice making chamber 5, the upper freezing chamber 6 and the lower freezing chamber 7, and a freezing fan 11 for circulating the air cooled by the freezing cooler 10. Is provided. The refrigeration cooler 8 and the refrigeration cooler 10 are driven by a compressor 13 disposed in a machine room 12 behind the lower freezer compartment 7. The compressor 13 constitutes a well-known refrigeration cycle together with the refrigeration cooler 8 and the refrigeration cooler 10. The operation state of the refrigeration cycle is controlled by the main control unit 30 (see FIG. 5) according to the internal temperature detected by the refrigeration temperature sensor 14 and the refrigeration temperature sensor 15.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the door 3a of the refrigerator compartment 3 is provided with an operation panel 16 (which constitutes setting means) having a display and switches. The display of the operation panel 16 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and displays various information related to the refrigerator 1 using characters, graphs, and the like. The switches of the operation panel 16 are composed of a plurality of switches such as a mechanical switch and a touch panel switch, and various setting operations for the refrigerator 1 are input. The door 3a of the refrigerator compartment 3 is provided with a display terminal 17 (which constitutes a notification means). As shown in FIG. 2, the display terminal 17 is provided so that its surface is flush with the door 3 a of the refrigerator compartment 3 or slightly inside the door 3 a. In addition, the structure which the display terminal 17 does not call is mentioned later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an egg case 18 (corresponding to a specific position) is provided inside the refrigerator compartment 3. The egg case 18 is provided at a specific position in the cabinet, and the ingredients to be stored are set in advance. Here, “pre-set” is an expression including, for example, one having a structure for storing a specific food or one recommended by a manufacturer for a food to be stored. is there. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the egg case 18 includes a shelf board 18 a having holes suitable for storing eggs 19 that are foods to be stored. This is used for storing the eggs 19. That is, in this embodiment, the egg case 18 corresponds to a specific position, and the egg 19 that is a food stored in the specific position corresponds to the specific food.

  Inside the egg case 18, the top plate 18b is provided with an in-compartment imaging camera 35 (which constitutes a storage amount acquisition unit and an imaging unit). The internal imaging camera 35 has an imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS, for example, and is provided so that the entire inside of the egg case 18, more strictly, all the stored eggs 19 can be imaged. Yes. The position of the internal imaging camera 35 is not limited to the top plate 18b, but may be configured to be provided on a side wall or the like.

  The refrigerator 1 having such a configuration is controlled by a main control unit 30 as shown in FIG. The main control unit 30 is configured by a computer having a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, and the like, and controls the entire refrigerator 1 according to a computer program stored in the ROM 32, for example. The main control unit 30 has a real time clock (hereinafter referred to as RTC 34) as a time measuring means, and can acquire time information. The time information that can be acquired includes time, date, day of the week, and the like. More specifically, the main control unit 30 operates the refrigeration cycle based on the temperature of the storage room detected by the refrigeration temperature sensor 14 or the refrigeration temperature sensor 15 according to the setting operation input from the operation panel 16. (Operation of each cooler and each fan) is controlled.

  In addition, the main control unit 30 acquires an image in the egg case 18 by the internal imaging camera 35. The acquired image in the egg case 18 is used to determine the storage amount of the egg 19. In the present embodiment, the acquired image is sent to the display terminal 17 side, and the storage amount of the eggs 19 is determined on the display terminal 17 side. The details of the illuminance sensor 22 having the light source 20 and the light detector 21 (which constitutes the storage amount acquisition means and the light intensity detection means) will be described in the second embodiment. It is not always necessary to provide both of them. Of course, either one may be provided.

  The main control unit 30 is communicably connected to the display terminal 17. In this embodiment, communication is performed between the main control unit 30 provided inside the main body 2 and the display terminal 17 provided on the door 3a by a wireless communication method. In the present embodiment, a so-called tablet-type mobile communication terminal is assumed as the display terminal 17. Note that a mobile communication terminal such as a so-called smartphone may be adopted as the display terminal 17.

  The control unit 40 of the display terminal 17 is configured by a computer having a CPU 41, a ROM 42, a RAM 43, an RTC 44, and the like, and controls the entire display terminal 17 according to a computer program stored in the ROM 42, for example. The control unit 40 is connected to a display unit 46, a touch panel 47, a communication unit 48, and a storage unit 49 that constitute a display panel 45 (which constitutes a notification unit). In this embodiment, since the mobile communication terminal is employed as the display terminal 17, the camera 50, the microphone 51, and the speaker 52 are provided as functions of the mobile communication terminal, but these are not necessarily essential.

  The display unit 46 of the display panel 45 includes a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and the like, and displays various types of information on the display terminal 17 side. The touch panel 47 is provided corresponding to the display unit 46 and receives an operation (for example, a setting operation described later) of the target person with respect to the display terminal 17. The communication unit 48 can communicate with the network 100 (for example, a public network) in a wireless manner, and a server 101 (corresponding to an external device) or a store camera connected via the network. Various types of information are transmitted to and received from 102 (corresponding to an external device). The server 101 is operated by a provider that provides food materials, and has a database in which the price information and stock information of the food materials are registered. The store camera 102 is a camera that captures a still image or a moving image of a store selling food. The store camera 102 may image the inside of the store including a display shelf or the like, or may enlarge and image a price tag that can grasp the type and price of the food. In other words, “the state of the store” only needs to be able to grasp the price and stock status of the ingredients. In the present embodiment, a so-called Internet is assumed as the network 100.

  Further, the control unit 40 includes a setting unit 53 (which constitutes a setting unit), a storage amount acquisition unit 54 (which constitutes a storage amount acquisition unit), a determination unit 55 (which constitutes a determination unit), and an ordering unit 56 (ordering unit). ), A search unit 57 (configures a search unit), and an image acquisition unit 58 (configures an image acquisition unit). In the present embodiment, each processing unit such as the setting unit 53, the storage amount acquisition unit 54, the determination unit 55, the ordering unit 56, the search unit 57, and the image acquisition unit 58 is implemented by a computer program executed by the control unit 40. Has been realized. These may be realized in hardware.

  The setting unit 53 sets a reference storage amount that is a reference value for the storage amount of the egg 19 that is the specific food. Also, the setting unit 53 determines whether or not to place an automatic order in the ordering unit 56, the supplier of the ordering party and the order quantity, the database of the provider to be searched by the searching unit 57, the setting of the ordering destination, that is, the server 101 to be connected, Or various settings, such as registration of the store camera 102 which acquires an image, are performed.

  In this embodiment, the storage amount acquisition unit 54 acquires the storage amount, that is, the number of the eggs 19 that are the specific ingredients, from the image inside the egg case 18 captured by the internal imaging camera 35. Specifically, the storage amount acquisition unit 54 acquires the number of eggs 19 by performing image processing on the captured image. In addition, when acquiring the number of eggs 19, it is possible to analyze an image with a well-known image processing method, extract the data of the egg 19, and acquire the number of the eggs 19 stored. It is not limited to a simple method. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when a hole is formed in the shelf plate 18a of the egg case 18, the bottom plate 18c of the egg case 18 has a different color (for example, red or blue) from the upper surface side of the shelf plate 18a. Black, etc. Although not limited, it is desirable that the color is significantly different from the color of the upper surface of the egg 19 or the shelf board 18a. If the background color can be extracted by the camera 35, it may be determined that the egg 19 is not placed at that position. In addition, when the shelf board 18a is not a hole but a recess, when the egg 19 is placed in the recess, a portion hidden by the egg may be painted in the background color.

The determination unit 55 compares the reference storage amount set by the setting unit 53 with the storage amount acquired by the storage amount acquisition unit 54, and determines whether the storage amount of the specific food is equal to or greater than the reference storage amount. To do.
The ordering unit 56 orders specific foods determined by the determination unit 55 to be less than the reference storage amount according to a preset order quantity. In addition, when automatic ordering (processing for automatically placing an order for a specific ingredient to the server 101 or the like when the specific ingredient becomes less than the reference storage amount) is set in the setting unit 53, automatic ordering of the particular ingredient is also performed. Do.

The image acquisition unit 58 acquires an image (moving image or still image) indicating the state of the store from the store camera 102. The acquired image is displayed on the display unit 46.
Next, the operation of the refrigerator 1 will be described. In addition, although the following processes are performed by each above-mentioned process part, it demonstrates focusing on the refrigerator 1 for the simplification of description.
The refrigerator 1 is performing the storage amount confirmation process shown in FIG. 6, and after acquiring the storage amount of specific food (S1), it is determined whether the acquired storage amount is more than a reference | standard storage amount (S2). ). When the refrigerator 1 determines that the storage amount is equal to or greater than the reference storage amount (S2: YES), the process is ended as it is.

  On the other hand, when the refrigerator 1 determines that the stored amount is less than the reference stored amount (S2: NO), the refrigerator 1 reports the insufficient food information that is information regarding the specific food that is insufficient (hereinafter referred to as the insufficient food). (S3). At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the refrigerator 1 displays a message such as “there are three eggs left” in the information display area M <b> 1 of the display unit 46, thereby notifying insufficient food information. To do. That is, the shortage food information includes at least the name of the specific food that is equal to or less than the reference storage amount and the remaining amount. In addition, a confirmation button M2, a price information button M3, an order button M4, and an image display button M5 are displayed on the display unit 46, and by touching the corresponding parts, as in step S7 and later described below. The notification mode changes.

  When the shortage of ingredients is notified, the refrigerator 1 determines whether or not automatic ordering is set (S4). When the automatic ordering is notified (S4: YES), the refrigerator 1 automatically orders the shortage of ingredients (S5). ). In this automatic ordering, a preset order quantity is ordered from a provider preset by the setting unit 53 as described above.

  On the other hand, when the automatic ordering is not set in the storage amount confirmation process shown in FIG. 6 (S4: NO), the refrigerator 1 determines whether the price information operation has been performed (S7). In this embodiment, the price information operation is a touch operation on the price information button M3 shown in FIG. When the price information operation is performed (S7: YES), the price information is searched and the search result is displayed (S8). In this case, the refrigerator 1 connects to a plurality of providers' servers 101 set in advance and searches for price information and the like of insufficient ingredients, and the search results are shown in FIG. A name (for example, XX supermarket) and price information (for example, 98 yen per pack) are displayed in the price information area M6.

  Note that the refrigerator 1 proceeds to step S6 if the end button M7 is touch-operated, for example, when the user is only interested in confirming price information. At this time, since the mobile communication terminal is employed as the display terminal 17 in the present embodiment, the confirmed price information is stored in the storage unit 49. The price information can be used even when the user goes out, such as going out for shopping with the display terminal 17.

  Further, the refrigerator 1 determines whether or not an ordering operation is performed in the storage amount confirmation process shown in FIG. 6 (S9), and when the ordering operation, that is, the ordering button M4 shown in FIG. (S9: YES), the shortage of ingredients is ordered (S10). In this case, for example, in FIG. 8, the displayed store information may be touch-operated to first select a provider, and then the order button M4 may be operated to place an order with the selected provider. The quantity to be ordered may be set in advance, or the quantity may be set every time an order is placed. At this time, the location of the home is obtained by providing the refrigerator 1 with a location acquisition means such as GPS, using the GPS function of the mobile communication terminal, or registering in advance information such as an address that can identify the location of the home. (In other words, the position of the refrigerator 1) can be specified, and information for selecting a provider such as “a store within 2 km around” and “a store within 10 km around” may be further displayed. At this time, the distance may be displayed together with the store name, or the display may be rearranged in order from the home.

  Further, the refrigerator 1 determines whether or not an image display operation is performed in the storage amount confirmation process shown in FIG. 6 (S11), and the image display operation, that is, the image display button M5 shown in FIG. In the case (S11: YES), the store image is displayed (S12). In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the refrigerator 1 is connected to a store camera 102 set in advance, and displays the state of the store in the image display area M8. When the image display button M5 is operated in a state where the provider is selected in the notification mode of FIG. 8, the state of the store of the selected provider is displayed.

  When these processes are performed, the refrigerator 1 displays the color of the door 3a of the refrigerator compartment 3 on the display unit 46 (S6), that is, the front surface of the display unit 46 is made the same color as the door 3a as so-called wallpaper. The process is terminated. Further, when the confirmation button M2 is touch-operated in the notification mode shown in FIG. 7, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the notification mode in FIG. 7, or in the notification mode shown in FIGS. If the end button M7 is touched, the process proceeds to step S6. In this case, when displaying the wallpaper over time without the confirmation button M2 or the end button M7 being operated, that is, when displaying the wallpaper without the user confirming the notification content, the notification mode of FIG. The wallpaper is displayed as it is, and when the user performs a touch operation, the screen returns to the notification mode shown in FIG.

According to the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment demonstrated above, there exist the following effects.
Compared to obtaining the storage amount of a specific food that is a food stored in a specific position that is a preset position in the warehouse, and acquiring all the storage amount of the food stored in the warehouse, It is possible to easily determine the shortage of ingredients. In other words, the amount of storage of specific foods can be determined without incurring huge costs in developing huge databases and image processing software to determine the shortage of ingredients. Can be improved.

Insufficient food ingredient information regarding a shortage ingredient whose storage amount is less than the reference storage amount is notified, so that forgetting to buy can be prevented.
Since the internal imaging camera 35 is employed as the storage amount acquisition means, the storage amount of the specific food can be acquired without contact.
Since the communication unit 48 is provided and an ordering procedure is performed with an external device (server 101, store camera 102) connected via the network 100, it is possible to purchase insufficient ingredients without going out for shopping. Will improve.
Further, since at least one of the price information of the shortage ingredients, the provider, and the inventory information is searched and the search means is notified, the provider to be purchased can be easily selected. In this case, since it is possible to obtain price information from a plurality of providers, convenience is improved and it is useful for households.

  Since an image indicating the state of the store is acquired and notified, it is possible to easily determine which provider should be selected when going out for shopping, how much stock is available, and the like. On the other hand, from the side of the provider, it is only necessary to provide a camera that captures the state of the store. In other words, it is not necessary to construct a time-consuming database, etc. The latest price information and the like can always be provided without creating time-consuming flyers. This is very significant for both the user and the provider considering that the refrigerator 1 stores fresh food.

Since the display terminal 17 as the notification means is provided on the door surface of the refrigerator compartment 3, it can be immediately recognized that there is a lack of food.
Since the display unit 46 displays a wallpaper having the same color as the color of the door 3a when no notification is made, the display unit 46 can give a sense of unity with the door 3a, and does not impair the design of the refrigerator 1, and also has a sense of unity of design. Can be issued.
When the user displays the wallpaper without confirming the notification content, the user returns to a straight notification mode (for example, FIG. 7) when the user performs a touch operation. The risk of overlooking can be reduced.

Since the display terminal 17 is provided so as to be removable from the door surface, the lacking food information can be confirmed even if the display terminal 17 is not in front of the refrigerator 1.
Since the mobile communication terminal is adopted as the display terminal 17, even if the user is not in front of the refrigerator 1, for example, when away from home, the missing food information can be confirmed.
Since additional processing such as image processing is performed on the display terminal 17 side, a large load is not generated on the main control unit 30 on the refrigerator 1 side, and the main control unit 30 side is almost the same as conventional processing. Since processing may be performed, the possibility that the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator 1 increases can be reduced. In addition, since the main control unit 30 and the control unit 40 communicate with each other in a wireless manner, there is no risk of leakage of cool air in the cabinet, and there is a risk of impairing the original function of the refrigerator 1 for storing food at low temperatures. Absent.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the refrigerator according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an illuminance sensor is used as the storage amount acquisition unit. In addition, since the structure of the refrigerator 1 is common in 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the refrigerator 1 of 2nd Embodiment, the storage amount of a specific foodstuff is acquired by the illumination intensity sensor 22 (refer FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 10, the illuminance sensor 22 has a light source 20 provided on the top plate 18b in the egg case 18 and each hole of the shelf plate 18a on the opposite side of the light source 20 across the shelf plate 18a. And a plurality of photodetectors 21 provided on the bottom plate 18c at a position corresponding to. A shelf 18a exists between the light source 20 and the photodetector 21, and the photodetector 21 detects light emitted from the light source 20 and passing through each hole of the shelf 18a. In the present embodiment, the light source 20 is configured as a dedicated light source that emits light to a specific position. In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, this is because the egg case 18 is provided at the lowermost stage (see FIG. 3) of the refrigerator compartment 3 and the upper part thereof is covered by the top plate 18b. This is because light from the interior lighting provided inside does not reach the egg case 18. Moreover, even if the top plate 18b or the like is formed of a material that transmits light, the light from the interior lighting is scattered or another foodstuff is placed on the egg case 18, etc. This is because it may be difficult to detect the storage amount based on the light of the internal illumination.

  However, the positional relationship between the light source 20 and the photodetector 21 is not limited to that shown in FIG. For example, a plurality of light sources 20 may be provided, or a plurality of holes may be detected by the integrated photodetector 21, or the light source 20 on the bottom plate 18 c side (lower side) and the photodetector on the top plate 18 b side (upper side). 21 is provided, the reflected light of the light irradiated from the upper side is detected on the upper side, the reflected light of the light irradiated from the lower side is detected on the lower side, or the light reflected from the upper side or the lower side is reflected. The structure which detects light by a wall part (side) may be sufficient. In this embodiment, visible light is assumed as light emitted from the light source 20, and the illuminance is detected. However, an ultraviolet detector that detects the light intensity using ultraviolet light that can be expected to have a bactericidal action is used as the light. It may be adopted.

Such a refrigerator 1 performs the storage amount confirmation process shown in FIG. 6 similarly to 1st Embodiment, and acquires the storage amount of a specific foodstuff in step S1. At this time, in a state where the egg 19 is placed on the shelf 18a and the hole is closed, the photodetector 21 does not detect light. On the other hand, when the egg 19 is not placed on the shelf 18a and the hole is not closed, the photodetector 21 detects light. Thereby, it can be determined in a non-contact manner whether or not the eggs 19 are placed, and the number of eggs 19 can be acquired.
Therefore, the refrigerator 1 of 2nd Embodiment can also acquire the effect similar to 1st Embodiment.

(Other embodiments)
In each embodiment, the example in which the storage position is generally set by the manufacturer like the egg case 18 is shown, but the user may set the specific position and the specific food by himself. In this case, the specific position and the specific food are set by the setting unit 53. In this case, for example, the right end of the uppermost shelf in the refrigerator compartment 3 is set as the specific position, bacon is set as the specific food, and the specific position is picked up by the internal imaging camera 35 or the illuminance sensor 22 is set. What is necessary is just to acquire the storage amount of a specific foodstuff by detecting illumination intensity in a specific position. That is, the type of specific food, the number of storage amount acquisition means, the attachment position, and the like are not limited to those shown in each embodiment. For example, when the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3 is targeted, the orientation of the in-chamber imaging camera 35 can be made variable, a wide range of the entire room installed using a wide-angle lens can be imaged, or a plurality of illuminance sensors 22 or an internal imaging camera 35 may be provided.

  In this case, since the food to be stored is set in advance at the specific position, in other words, since the position or area is set in advance, a huge amount of food is stored at the specific position. Nor. Therefore, it is possible to more easily determine the food material.

In each embodiment, although the example which provided the main control part 30 and the control part 40 was shown, it is good also as a structure which provides any one and performs each process by one control means.
In each embodiment, an example in which communication is performed between the main control unit 30 and the display terminal 17 by a wireless method has been described. However, a configuration in which communication is performed by a wired method such as the USB standard may be employed. If the USB standard is used, power can be supplied to the display terminal 17, and when the mobile communication terminal is used as in the embodiment, the mobile communication terminal can be charged.

In each embodiment, the mobile communication terminal having the communication unit 48 is employed as the display terminal 17, but a mobile terminal that does not include the communication unit 48 may be employed. In that case, the communication part 48 is provided in the refrigerator 1 side, and it is good to perform an additional big process, such as discrimination | determination of a foodstuff, in the portable terminal side.
The communication unit 48 may perform communication with the network 100 by a wired method without being limited to a wireless method.
Although the example of the smart phone or the tablet-type personal computer was shown as the display terminal 17, the shortage ingredient information can be transmitted by e-mail, for example, and the e-mail can be received by a so-called mobile phone so that the deficient ingredient information can be confirmed. Good. That is, a mobile phone can also be employed as the notification means.

Not only the non-contact type but also the contact amount sensor may be configured by a contact type sensor such as a weight sensor or a mechanical contact.
Although the example which used the light source 20 as the exclusive light source with respect to a specific position was shown in 2nd Embodiment, if the light from the interior lighting of the refrigerator compartment 3 arrives, you may employ | adopt interior lighting as the light source 20. FIG. Further, when the light from the interior lighting does not reach the specific position, a light source for the interior imaging camera 35 of the first embodiment may be provided.

  According to the refrigerator of the embodiment, the storage amount of the specific food that is the food stored in the specific position that is a preset position in the warehouse is acquired, and the storage amount of the acquired specific food is preset. It determines whether it is more than a reference | standard storage amount, and alert | reports the information regarding the insufficient foodstuff which is the specific foodstuff determined to be less than a reference | standard storage amount. Thereby, in the refrigerator 1 in which a large number of foods of other varieties may be stored, the storage position of the foods and the kind of the foods are set in advance, so that a complicated database for discriminating a huge database and various foods Even without the development of software having an algorithm, it is possible to determine the shortage of ingredients and check the storage amount. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that can improve the accuracy of determination of foodstuffs and storage amount without incurring enormous costs.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the drawings, 1 is a refrigerator, 3a is a door, 17 is a display terminal (notification means), 18 is an egg case (specific position), 19 is an egg (specific food), 22 is an illuminance sensor (storage amount acquisition means, light detection means). ), 35 is an internal imaging camera (storage amount acquisition means, imaging means), 46 is a display unit (display means), 48 is a communication unit (communication means), 53 is a setting unit (setting means), and 54 is a storage amount acquisition. Part (storage amount acquisition means), 55 is a determination part (determination means), 56 is an ordering part (ordering means), 57 is a search part (search means), 58 is an image acquisition part (image acquisition means), 100 is a network, Reference numeral 101 denotes a server (external device), and 102 denotes a store camera (external device).

Claims (11)

A storage amount acquisition means for acquiring a storage amount of a specific food that is a food stored in a specific position that is a preset position in the warehouse;
Setting means for setting a reference storage amount that is a reference value for the storage amount of the specific food acquired by the storage amount acquisition means;
A determination unit that determines whether the storage amount of the specific food acquired by the storage amount acquisition unit is equal to or greater than the reference storage amount set by the setting unit;
An informing means for informing information on a shortage of food that is the specific food determined to be less than the reference storage amount by the determining means;
A refrigerator comprising:   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage amount acquisition unit includes an imaging unit that images the specific position, and acquires the storage amount of the specific food from an image captured by the imaging unit.   The storage amount acquisition unit includes a light intensity detection unit that detects the light intensity at the specific position, and acquires the storage amount of the specific food from the light intensity detected by the light intensity detection unit. The refrigerator described.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the setting unit can further set the specific position and the specific food stored in the specific position. A communication means for communicating with an external device connected via a network;
Ordering means for performing an ordering procedure for the shortage of ingredients to the external device;
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: A communication means for communicating with an external device connected via a network;
Search means for searching at least one of price information, provider and inventory information of the shortage ingredients from the external device, and
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the notification unit notifies a search result obtained by the search unit. A communication means for communicating with an external device connected via a network;
Image acquisition means for acquiring an image showing a state of a store of a provider that handles the insufficient food from the external device, and
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the notification unit notifies the image acquired by the image acquisition unit.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the informing means includes a display unit provided on a door surface.   The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the notification unit is provided so as to be removable from a door surface.   The refrigerator according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the notification means displays the same color as the color of the door when the notification is not performed. As the notification means,
Setting means for setting a reference storage amount that is a reference value for the storage amount of the specific food detected by the storage amount acquisition means;
A determination unit that determines whether the storage amount of the specific food acquired by the storage amount acquisition unit is equal to or greater than the reference storage amount set by the setting unit;
A display unit for displaying information on the insufficient food that is the specific food determined to be less than the reference storage amount by the determination unit;
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a portable communication terminal having communication means for communicating with an external device connected via a network is employed.

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