JP2023178779A - food storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

To assist a user in understanding a condition of food in storage by means of a food storage chamber with a simpler structure.SOLUTION: A food storage system includes: a storage space in which food is stored; a light emitting unit 12 that irradiates light into the storage space; a communication device 13 that can acquire information on a fluorescent image of the food exposed to light irradiated from the light emitting unit 12 captured by an external photographic device such as a portable information terminal 40; a control unit 8 that detects a state of the food from the information on the fluorescent image acquired by the communication device 13; and a display unit 6b that reports the information on the state of the food detected by the control unit 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to food storage systems.

Generally, a wide variety of foods are stored in food storages such as refrigerators. It is difficult for a user to grasp all the conditions of food stored in the refrigerator. To solve this problem, a method has been proposed in which the condition of the food is determined using an image of the food inside the refrigerator. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a camera that captures an ultraviolet image including the fish's eye that has received light from an ultraviolet light source, and a camera that estimates the time of fish decomposition based on the brightness value of the fish's eye in the ultraviolet image that includes the fish's eye. A refrigerator equipped with an estimated section and a is described.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-209259

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide the refrigerator with a camera that takes pictures of the inside of the refrigerator, and there is a problem that the structure of the refrigerator becomes complicated.

The present disclosure is intended to solve the above problems. An object of the present disclosure is to support a user in grasping the state of food being stored using a food storage with a simpler structure.

A food storage system according to the present disclosure includes a storage space for storing food, a light emitting means for irradiating light into the storage space, and a food that has been photographed by an external photographic device and has received light irradiated from the light emitting means. an information acquisition means capable of acquiring information on a fluorescence image of the information, a control means for detecting a state of the food from information on the fluorescence image acquired by the information acquisition means, and a control means for detecting the state of the food detected by the control means; A notification means for notifying information.

According to the food storage system according to the present disclosure, the food storage with a simpler structure can help the user understand the state of the food being stored.

1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of a vegetable compartment included in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control system of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a change over time in brightness obtained from a fluorescence image obtained by photographing a melon irradiated with blue light, depending on the number of days of storage. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image calculation processing by the control device included in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation processing of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the first embodiment.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts. In this disclosure, duplicate explanations will be simplified or omitted as appropriate. In the following description, for convenience, the positional relationship of each structure may be expressed based on the illustrated state. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and modifications thereof shown below. Arbitrary components described in the following embodiments and modifications thereof can be freely combined, modified, or omitted without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. In the present disclosure, in principle, each direction is defined based on the time when the refrigerator 1 is installed in a usable state. Furthermore, in each of the drawings including FIGS. 1 and 2, the dimensions, positional relationships, shapes, etc. of each member constituting the refrigerator 1 may not necessarily completely match the actual ones.

The refrigerator 1 is an example of a food storage that stores food. The food storage according to the present disclosure is not limited to the refrigerator 1, and may be one that stores food at room temperature instead of refrigerating it, for example. Hereinafter, a refrigerator 1 will be described as an example of a food storage according to the present disclosure.

The refrigerator 1 includes a heat insulating box body 90. The insulating box 90 has an outer box, an inner box, and a heat insulating material. The outer box is made of steel, for example. The inner box is made of resin, for example. The inner box is placed inside the outer box. The heat insulating material is, for example, urethane foam or vacuum heat insulating material. The space between the outer box and the inner box is filled with a heat insulating material.

The front surface (front surface) of the heat insulating box 90 is open. A storage space is formed inside the heat insulating box 90. The storage space is a space where stored items such as food are stored. The storage space formed inside the heat insulating box 90 is divided into a plurality of storage chambers for storing and storing food by one or more partition members.

As an example, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator compartment 100, a switching compartment 200, an ice making compartment 300, a vegetable compartment 400, and a freezing compartment 500 as a plurality of storage compartments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of these storage chambers is arranged in four stages in the vertical direction inside the heat insulating box 90.

The refrigerator compartment 100 is arranged at the top of the inside of the heat insulating box 90. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of shelf boards are provided inside the refrigerator compartment 100, for example. The inside of the refrigerator compartment 100 is vertically partitioned into a plurality of spaces by these shelf boards.

The switching chamber 200 is arranged below the refrigerator compartment 100 on one side of the left and right sides. The temperature zone in the switching chamber 200 can be selectively switched to any one of a plurality of temperature zones. The plurality of temperature zones that can be selected as the temperature zone in the switching chamber 200 are, for example, a freezing temperature zone, a refrigerating temperature zone, a chilled temperature zone, a soft freezing temperature zone, and the like. The freezing temperature range is, for example, a temperature range of about -18°C. The refrigeration temperature range is, for example, a temperature range of about 3°C. The chilled temperature zone is, for example, a temperature zone of about 0°C. The soft freezing temperature range is, for example, a temperature range of about -7°C.

The ice making chamber 300 is arranged adjacent to the side of the switching chamber 200. The ice making chamber 300 is arranged in parallel with the switching chamber 200. That is, the ice-making compartment 300 is arranged below the refrigerator compartment 100 on the left and right sides.

The vegetable compartment 400 is arranged below the switching compartment 200 and the ice making compartment 300. The vegetable compartment 400 stores, for example, vegetables and large-capacity plastic bottles. Freezer compartment 500 is arranged below vegetable compartment 400. Freezer compartment 500 is arranged at the bottom of insulating box 90. Freezer chamber 500 is used to freeze and preserve stored items for a relatively long period of time.

A refrigerator door 7 for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment 100 is provided at the front of the refrigerator compartment 100 . The refrigerator compartment door 7 is, for example, a double-opening rotary door. The double-opening refrigerator compartment door 7 includes a right door 7a and a left door 7b. An operation panel 6 is provided on the outer surface of the refrigerator compartment door 7. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 6 is provided on the left door 7b.

As an example, the switching compartment 200, the ice making compartment 300, the vegetable compartment 400, and the freezing compartment 500 are each opened and closed by a pull-out door. These pull-out doors can be slid in the depth direction of the refrigerator 1 along rails formed horizontally on the left and right inner wall surfaces of each storage compartment. The user of the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment can open and close the switching compartment 200, the ice making compartment 300, the vegetable compartment 400, and the freezing compartment 500 by sliding the pull-out door back and forth.

Inside the switching room 200, a switching room storage case 201 that can store food and the like is stored in a manner that can be freely pulled out. Inside the vegetable compartment 400, a vegetable compartment storage case 401 that can store food and the like is stored in a drawable manner. Similarly, in the freezer compartment 500, a freezer compartment storage case 501 that can store food and the like is stored in a freely drawable manner.

The switching room storage case 201 is supported by a frame provided on a door that opens and closes the switching room 200. The switching room storage case 201 is pulled out in conjunction with the door that opens and closes the switching room 200. The vegetable compartment storage case 401 is supported by a frame provided on a door that opens and closes the vegetable compartment 400. The vegetable compartment storage case 401 is pulled out in conjunction with the door that opens and closes the vegetable compartment 400. Similarly, the freezer compartment storage case 501 is supported by a frame provided on a door that opens and closes the freezer compartment 500. The freezer compartment storage case 501 is pulled out in conjunction with the door that opens and closes the freezer compartment 500.

Further, inside the vegetable compartment 400, a vegetable compartment upper storage case 402 is provided. The vegetable compartment upper storage case 402 is placed on top of the vegetable compartment storage case 401. The vegetable compartment storage case 401 and the vegetable compartment upper storage case 402 are examples of cases where food is placed. Similarly, inside the freezer compartment 500, a freezer compartment upper storage case 502 is provided. Freezer compartment upper storage case 502 is placed on top of freezer compartment storage case 501.

Note that the number of storage compartments provided in the refrigerator 1, the arrangement of the storage compartments, the configuration of the door for opening and closing the storage compartments, the number and configuration of cases in the storage compartment, etc. are limited to the examples described above. isn't it. For example, the door for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment 100 may be of a sliding type. Furthermore, the doors for opening and closing the switching compartment 200, the ice making compartment 300, the vegetable compartment 400, and the freezing compartment 500 may be rotary. Two or more of each of the switching compartment storage case 201, the vegetable compartment storage case 401, the freezer storage case 501, the vegetable compartment upper storage case 402, and the freezer upper storage case 502 may be provided.

The refrigerator 1 includes a compressor 2, a cooler 3, a blower fan 4, an air passage 5, and the like as a cooling mechanism for cooling each storage compartment. The compressor 2 and the cooler 3 constitute a refrigeration cycle circuit with a condenser, a throttle device, etc., which are not shown. The compressor 2 compresses and discharges the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle circuit. The condenser condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2. The throttling device expands the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser. The cooler 3 cools the air supplied to each storage chamber by the refrigerant expanded by the expansion device. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the compressor 2 is arranged at the bottom of the back side of the refrigerator 1.

The air passage 5 is for supplying air cooled by the refrigeration cycle circuit to each storage room. The air passage 5 is formed inside the heat insulating box 90. The air passage 5 is arranged, for example, on the back side of the refrigerator 1. A cooler 3 constituting a refrigeration cycle circuit is installed within this air passage 5. Further, a blower fan 4 is also installed in the air passage 5 to send air cooled by the cooler 3 to each storage room.

When the blower fan 4 operates, air cooled by the cooler 3, that is, cold air, is sent to the freezer compartment 500, the switching compartment 200, the ice making compartment 300, and the refrigerator compartment 100 through the air path 5. Thereby, each storage room of the freezing room 500, the switching room 200, the ice making room 300, and the refrigerator room 100 is cooled. Furthermore, cold air returned from the refrigerator compartment 100 is introduced into the vegetable compartment 400 via an air path (not shown). Thereby, the inside of the vegetable compartment 400 is cooled. The air that has passed through the vegetable compartment 400 is returned into the air passage 5 where the cooler 3 is installed. The air returned into the air passage 5 is cooled again by the cooler 3 and circulated within the refrigerator 1.

In addition, dampers (not shown) are provided at intermediate locations leading from the air passage 5 to each storage chamber. By changing the opening/closing state of each damper, the amount of cold air supplied to each storage compartment is adjusted. The amount of cold air supplied to each storage compartment is also adjusted by controlling the operation of the blower fan 4. Moreover, the temperature of the air supplied to each storage chamber is adjusted by controlling the output of the compressor 2.

A thermistor (not shown) is installed in each storage chamber. This thermistor detects the temperature inside each storage chamber. The damper, blower fan 4, and compressor 2 described above are controlled based on the detection results of this thermistor. The damper, the blower fan 4, and the compressor 2 are controlled so that the temperature in each storage chamber reaches a preset temperature. The refrigeration cycle circuit including the compressor 2 and cooler 3 provided as described above, the blower fan 4, the air passage 5, and the damper are an example of a cooling means for cooling the inside of the storage room.

Furthermore, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control device 8. The control device 8 is provided, for example, at the upper part of the back side of the refrigerator 1, as shown in FIG. The control device 8 has a function of controlling the compressor 2, the blower fan 4, the damper, etc., which are examples of cooling means. The control device 8 is equipped with a control circuit and the like for controlling the operation of the refrigerator 1. Each function of the control device 8 is realized by this control circuit.

The refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a communication device 13. This communication device 13 constitutes an example of information acquisition means according to the present disclosure. As an example, the communication device 13 is provided on the upper surface of the refrigerator 1, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the vegetable compartment 400 included in the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3 and the following description, the door that opens and closes the vegetable compartment 400 is referred to as a vegetable compartment door 9 with a reference numeral. FIG. 3(a) shows a state in which the vegetable compartment door 9 is closed. FIG. 3(b) shows a state in which the vegetable compartment door 9 is opened.

The vegetable compartment storage case 401 is supported by the frame of the vegetable compartment door 9. When the vegetable compartment door 9 is pulled forward, the vegetable compartment storage case 401 and the vegetable compartment upper storage case 402 placed on the vegetable compartment storage case 401 are pulled out forward in conjunction with the vegetable compartment door 9. . When only the vegetable compartment upper storage case 402 is slid rearward with the vegetable compartment door 9 pulled out, only the vegetable compartment storage case 401 is pulled forward together with the vegetable compartment door 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator 1 includes a door opening/closing detection switch 10 and a vegetable compartment thermistor 11. The door opening/closing detection switch 10 is for detecting the opening/closing state of the vegetable compartment door 9. The door opening/closing detection switch 10 is an example of door opening/closing detection means for detecting the opening/closing state of the door of the storage room included in the refrigerator 1. The door opening/closing detection switch 10 is provided, for example, at a position facing the vegetable compartment door 9 at the edge of the opening on the front side of the vegetable compartment 400. The vegetable compartment thermistor 11 is provided on the back side of the vegetable compartment 400. The vegetable compartment thermistor 11 detects the temperature inside the vegetable compartment 400. The vegetable compartment thermistor 11 is an example of temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of a storage compartment included in the refrigerator 1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator 1 includes a light emitting section 12 as an example of an issuing means for emitting light. The light emitting unit 12 includes a light source that emits light. The light emitting unit 12 is installed, for example, on the ceiling surface of the vegetable compartment 400, as shown in FIG. In the state where the vegetable compartment door 9 is opened as shown in FIG. 3(b), the light emitting unit 12 can irradiate light into the vegetable compartment upper storage case 402. The light emitting unit 12 can irradiate light onto the target food placed in the vegetable compartment upper storage case 402. The storage space in the vegetable compartment upper storage case 402 in this embodiment is an example of the storage space according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control system of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. The control circuit of the control device 8 includes, for example, a processor 8a and a memory 8b. The control device 8 controls the refrigerator 1 by executing preset processing by the processor 8a executing a program stored in the memory 8b.

The processor 8a is also referred to as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. Examples of the memory 8b include nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memories such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, and EEPROM, or magnetic disks, flexible disks, optical disks, compact disks, minidisks, and DVDs.

Note that the control circuit of the control device 8 may be formed as dedicated hardware, for example. A part of the control circuit of the control device 8 may be formed as dedicated hardware, and the control circuit may include a processor 8a and a memory 8b. Control circuits that are partially formed as dedicated hardware include, for example, single circuits, composite circuits, programmed processors, parallel programmed processors, ASICs, FPGAs, or combinations thereof. .

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel 6 of this embodiment includes an operation section 6a and a display section 6b. The operation unit 6a is an operation switch for setting the cold storage temperature of each storage compartment. The display section 6b is a liquid crystal display section that displays various information such as the temperature of each storage chamber. The operation panel 6 may include a touch panel that serves as both the operation section 6a and the display section 6b. The operating section 6a outputs a signal to the control device 8 according to the operation of the operating section 6a by the user. Further, the control device 8 outputs a display signal to the display section 6b of the operation panel 6, and controls the operation of the display section 6b.

Signals are input to the control device 8 from thermistors that detect the temperature inside each storage compartment, including the vegetable compartment thermistor 11. The control device 8 controls the compressor 2, the blower fan 4, etc. based on the input signal so that the inside of each storage chamber is maintained at a set temperature. The control device 8 in this embodiment is an example of a control means that controls the cooling means. In addition, in FIG. 4, only the vegetable compartment thermistor 11 is illustrated among the thermistors of each storage compartment.

Communication device 13 is connected to control device 8 . Further, the communication device 13 can be connected to a telecommunications line 30. The control device 8 can transmit and receive data to and from a portable information terminal 40 such as a tablet terminal or a mobile phone via the telecommunication line 30 using the communication device 13 . Note that the control device 8 may be able to communicate with an external device other than the mobile information terminal 40, such as a digital camera.

The telecommunication line 30 corresponds to various communication lines for digital or analog signals, such as power lines, infrared lines, non-infrared lines, wireless lines, public lines, optical cables, the Internet, and satellite lines. The communication format between the communication device 13 and the telecommunication line 30 may be wired or wireless. The communication device 13 is an interface capable of transmitting and receiving digital or analog signals. When performing wired communication, the communication device 13 includes, for example, a serial interface or a driver. When performing wireless communication, the communication device 16 includes a communication module compatible with communication standards such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

A signal from a door opening/closing detection switch 10 is also input to the control device 8 . The control device 8 then controls the operation of the light emitting section 12. For example, when the door opening/closing detection switch 10 detects that the vegetable compartment door 9 has been opened, the control device 8 turns on the light emitting section 12. When light is irradiated from the light emitting unit 12 to the food object placed in the vegetable compartment upper storage case 402, the fluorescent substance contained in the object is excited and fluorescence is generated.

The light source of the light emitting unit 12 is, for example, an LED light source. The light emitting unit 12 emits, for example, ultraviolet light in the UV-A region with a wavelength of 200 nm to 400 nm, or blue light with a wavelength of 400 nm to 500 nm. Fluorescence can be effectively emitted from foods by irradiating them with relatively short wavelength light within the above wavelength range. It has been known for a long time that it is possible to estimate the freshness, ripeness, spoilage, and other conditions of food based on the state of fluorescence emitted from the food. Note that when ultraviolet light in the UV-A region with a wavelength of 320 nm to 400 nm or blue light as described above is used, deterioration of the resin parts constituting the refrigerator 1 can be suppressed.

A user who wants to check the condition of the target food opens the vegetable compartment door 9 and uses an external photographing device such as a mobile information terminal 40 with a camera function to check the condition of the food that is illuminated by the light emitting unit 12. Take a fluorescence image. Information on this fluorescence image is acquired by the communication device 13, which is an example of information acquisition means, via the telecommunication line 30. The control device 8 executes arithmetic processing based on the information of the fluorescence image acquired by the communication device 13. The control device 8 detects the condition of the food based on the result of this calculation process.

The control device 8 performs image calculation processing on a fluorescence image photographed by a photographing device such as a mobile information terminal 40 when the light emitting unit 12 is turned on. Specifically, the control device 8 divides the fluorescence image into a plurality of small blocks, for example, pixel units, and sets coordinates (x, y) representing the position of each pixel. Then, information on the luminance L(x, y) of each block (pixel) is acquired. If the luminance L(x, y) is equal to or greater than a preset threshold, the control device 8 determines that an object exists in the block corresponding to the coordinates (x, y). This threshold value is set as the brightness L0 (x, y) when nothing is placed in the vegetable compartment upper storage case 402. The control device 8 extracts the range of the object as described above and acquires information on the brightness Lt(x,y) of the object. The control device 8 performs state determination based on information on the brightness Lt(x,y) of the object and a pre-stored threshold value.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of how the luminance Lt obtained from a fluorescence image obtained by photographing a melon irradiated with blue light changes over time depending on the number of storage days. The luminance Lt decreases as the number of storage days passes. By using this, the ripeness and freshness of food can be determined. In the example of FIG. 5, when the brightness Lt is equal to or higher than the threshold value L1, it is determined that the fruit is unripe, when it is equal to or more than L2 and less than L1, it is determined to be ready to eat, and when it is less than L2, it is determined that it is overripe. Thereby, the ripeness of the food that is the object placed in the vegetable compartment upper storage case 402 can be determined. The determination of the ripeness of the food is performed by the control device 8, for example. The control device 8 in this embodiment functions as a control unit that detects the state of the food from the information of the fluorescence image acquired by the information acquisition unit.

The determination result of the ripeness of the food is displayed, for example, on the display section 6b. The display section 6b in this embodiment is an example of a notification device that reports information regarding the state of the food detected by the control device. According to this embodiment, the user can grasp whether the food in the refrigerator 1 is ready to eat. The user can eat the food in a delicious state, and also prevent the food from being wasted by consuming it early if it becomes overripe. Note that the control device 8 may display the determination result of the food condition on an external device such as the mobile information terminal 40 via the telecommunications line 30.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of image calculation processing by the control device 8 included in the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 6, the photographed image is divided into N×M pixel units, and n (=1, 2, ..., N) and m (=1, 2, ..., M) , the brightness at each pixel coordinate (x _n , y _m ) is determined. First, n=1 is set (step S1101), and m=1 is set (step S1102). Then, it is determined whether the brightness L (x _n , y _m ) at the pixel coordinates (x _n , y _m ) is greater than the brightness L0 (x _n , y _m ) in a preset initial state (step S1103). . When the brightness L(x _n , y _m ) is larger than the brightness L0(x _n , y _m ), it is determined that an object exists in the block at the pixel coordinates (x _n , y _m ), and the brightness Lt( x _n , y _m )=luminance L(x _n , y _m ). (Step S1104). If the brightness L (x _n , y _m ) is less than or equal to the brightness L0 (x _n , y _m ), it is determined that there is no object in the block at the pixel coordinates (x _n , y _m ), and the brightness is Set Lt(x _n , y _m )=0. (Step S1105). The above processing is repeated to perform processing on all blocks of N×M pixels (steps S1106 to S1109). Then, the average value of the brightness Lt (xn, ym) in the range where the target object exists is calculated as the brightness Lt of the target object (step S1110), and the image calculation process ends.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation process of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. When it is detected that the vegetable compartment door 9 is opened (step S101), the light emitting section 12 is turned on (step S102). Here, time measurement using the timer function is started with t=0 (step S103). After step S103, when fluorescence image data is received from the mobile information terminal 40 or the like through a user's operation (step S104), the light emitting unit 12 is turned off (step S105).

Subsequently, image calculation processing is performed on the data of the received fluorescence image to obtain information on the luminance Lt of the object (step S106). If the brightness Lt is equal to or higher than the preset threshold L1 (step S107), the state of the object is determined to be "immature" (step S114). If the brightness Lt is less than the threshold L1 in step S107, the brightness Lt is compared with a preset threshold L2 (step S108). If the brightness Lt is equal to or greater than the threshold L2 in step S108, the state of the object is determined to be "ready to eat" (step S115). If the brightness Lt is less than the threshold L2 in step S108, the state of the object is determined to be overripe (step S109). The determination results in step S109, step S114, and step S115 are transmitted to the display unit 6b, the mobile information terminal 40, etc. (step S110), and the user is notified.

If no fluorescence image data is received in step S104, when it is detected that the vegetable compartment door 9 is closed (step S111), the light emitting unit 12 is turned off (step S112). After the vegetable compartment door 9 is closed, the processes from step S104 to step S112 are continuously performed until the time t from when the light emitting section 12 is turned on elapses by a predetermined time t1 (step S113).

In the embodiment described above, by using an external photographing device, it is possible to assist the user in grasping the state of stored food without installing a photographing device such as a camera inside the refrigerator 1. It is possible to do so. For example, compared to the case where a photographic device is provided inside the refrigerator 1, the capacity for storing food inside the refrigerator 1 can be increased. Moreover, the structure of the refrigerator 1 can be made simpler.

In the above embodiment, the light emitting unit 12 lights up in conjunction with the opening of the vegetable compartment door 9, for example. For example, the light emitting unit 12 may be configured to turn off when the door opening/closing detection switch 10 detects that the vegetable compartment door 9 is closed. When the vegetable compartment door 9 is closed, the user does not take a fluorescent image using a photographing device. By turning off the light emitting section 12 when the vegetable compartment door 9 is closed, wasteful power consumption and the like can be reduced.

The lighting and extinguishing of the light emitting section 12 is not limited to being linked to the opening and closing of the vegetable compartment door 9. For example, lighting and extinguishing of the light emitting section 12 may be controlled in response to the user's operation of the operation panel 6 or the operation of the mobile information terminal 40. Thereby, for example, when simply taking out or putting things in or out of the refrigerator 1, the light emitting unit 12 can be prevented from being turned on, and unnecessary power consumption and the like can be reduced.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the refrigerator compartment 100 may be provided with a lighting section 14 for normal interior lighting and a light emitting section 12 for photographing a fluorescent image. In this way, the storage space that is irradiated with light by the light emitting unit 12 is not limited to the vegetable compartment 400. In the modification shown in FIG. 8, lighting and extinguishing of the light emitting unit 12 is controlled in accordance with the user's operation of the operation panel 6 or the operation of the mobile information terminal 40. Alternatively, the light emitting unit 12 may be turned on when the user performs a predetermined operation while the refrigerator compartment door 7 is opened.

The light emitting unit 12 that emits excitation light may be installed, for example, so as to emit light from the front side to the back side of the main body of the refrigerator 1. That is, the light emitting unit 12 may be installed so as to irradiate light toward the opposite side of the door that opens and closes the storage compartment and storage space in the refrigerator 1. This can prevent the user from directly looking at the light from the light emitting section 12.

Note that in order to facilitate the user to take a fluorescent image, the light emitting unit 12 is placed on the front side of the main body of the refrigerator 1, specifically, on the front side (on the door side) of the center of the main body of the refrigerator 1 in the longitudinal direction. It is desirable to be present. Further, the refrigerator 1 may be provided with a sign indicating the installation position of the photographing device, a structure capable of fixing the photographing device, or the like, in order to facilitate the user's photographing of fluorescence images.

The food storage system according to the present disclosure can be realized by a single food storage such as the refrigerator 1 configured as described above, or can be realized by cooperation between the food storage and external equipment. . For example, the function of the control means for detecting the state of food from the information of the fluorescence image may be realized by an external device of the food storage. In this case, the function of the information acquisition means for acquiring information on a fluorescence image photographed by an external imaging device may also be realized by an external device of the food storage. That is, the food storage does not need to be equipped with a control means for detecting the state of food from fluorescence image information and an information acquisition means for acquiring information on fluorescence images photographed by an external imaging device. Further, for example, the function of the notification means for notifying information regarding the state of the food detected by the control means may also be realized by an external device of the refrigerator 1 other than the display section 6b.

For example, the functions of the information acquisition means and the control means may be realized on a cloud that can be connected to the telecommunications line 30. In this example, the load of information processing in a food storage such as the refrigerator 1 can be reduced. Further, the data of fluorescence images taken by the user may be stored in a server on a cloud or the like and made available for viewing. In this example, the user can view past food conditions, and can assist with shopping, for example.

1 Refrigerator, 2 Compressor, 3 Cooler, 4 Blow fan, 5 Air path, 6 Operation panel, 6a Operation unit, 6b Display unit, 7 Refrigerator door, 7a Right door, 7b Left door, 8 Control device, 8a Processor , 8b memory, 9 vegetable compartment door, 10 door opening/closing detection switch, 11 vegetable compartment thermistor, 12 light emitting unit, 13 communication device, 14 lighting unit, 30 telecommunication line, 40 mobile information terminal, 90 insulation box, 100 refrigerator compartment , 200 Switching room, 201 Switching room storage case, 300 Ice making room, 400 Vegetable compartment, 401 Vegetable compartment storage case, 402 Vegetable compartment upper storage case, 500 Freezer compartment, 501 Freezer compartment storage case, 502 Freezer compartment upper storage case

Claims (3)

storage space for storing food;
a light emitting means for irradiating light into the storage space;
information acquisition means capable of acquiring information on a fluorescent image of the food that has received light irradiated from the light emitting means, photographed by an external photographing device;
a control means for detecting the state of the food from the information of the fluorescence image acquired by the information acquisition means;
Notifying means for notifying information regarding the state of the food detected by the control means;
Food storage system with. comprising a door opening/closing detection means for detecting an opening/closing state of a door that opens/closes the storage space;
2. The food storage system according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting means is turned off when the door opening/closing detection means detects that the door is closed. 3. The food storage system according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting means is provided to emit light toward a side opposite to a door that opens and closes the storage space.

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