JP6945131B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator which can be confirmed by the display terminal or the like accommodation status by imaging a food storage compartment, such as a refrigerating compartment.

In general, many refrigerators and refrigeration systems of this type have been proposed. For example, in the refrigerator and the refrigerating system described in Patent Document 1, a small camera is provided in a storage room such as a refrigerating room, and the food storage status in the storage room imaged by the small camera can be measured by a mobile phone or the like via an internet line. It is configured so that it can be confirmed by the display terminal of.

Further, Patent Document 2 also discloses a refrigerator and a refrigerating system similar to Patent Document 1, and the one described in Patent Document 1 captures the state of foodstuffs in the storage room with a small camera when the refrigerator door is closed. It is configured to do so.

Further, in the refrigerator and the refrigerator system described in Patent Document 3, in addition to the configuration described in Patent Document 1, a display terminal is further provided on the surface of the refrigerator, and the display terminal is a fixed terminal and a refrigerator incorporated in the surface of the refrigerator. It consists of a display terminal such as a mobile phone that can be removed from the surface and carried around, and both terminals can display the food storage status in the storage room captured by a small camera via the Internet line on the display unit when going out. Of course, it is configured so that you can know the food storage status in the storage room without opening the refrigerator door even when you are at home.

In this way, many refrigerators of this type and their refrigerator systems, that is, refrigerators and their refrigerator systems that allow the storage status to be confirmed on a display terminal or the like by imaging the ingredients in the storage room, have been proposed. Some are very convenient.

JP-A-2002-236798 JP-A-2007-46833 JP-A-2002-81818

However, the conventional refrigerator and its refrigerator system have a problem that the camera is preliminarily attached to the refrigerator body or the door, and the user cannot change the camera position according to his / her preference .

The invention was made in view of the above problems, it is intended to provide a refrigerator that can change in accordance with the camera position to taste.

The refrigerator of the present invention is a refrigerator having at least one storage chamber in order to achieve the above object, and executes wireless communication with a door covering the storage chamber and an imaging device for imaging the inside of the storage chamber. An image pickup unit in which a first wireless communication device is integrated and a second wireless communication device provided on the door for executing wireless communication are provided, and the first wireless communication device is the image pickup device. The image data captured by the above is transmitted to the second wireless communication device, the second wireless communication device transmits the image data to the outside of the refrigerator, and the installation location of the image pickup unit is changed by the user. It is characterized by being possible . Further, the refrigerator of the present invention is a refrigerator having at least one storage chamber in order to achieve the above object, and is a first wireless communication device that executes wireless communication with an imaging device that images the inside of the storage chamber. The first wireless communication device includes an image pickup unit integrated with the above and a second wireless communication device provided in the refrigerator body for executing wireless communication, and the first wireless communication device is image data captured by the image pickup device. Is transmitted to the second wireless communication device, the second wireless communication device transmits the image data to the outside of the refrigerator, and the installation location of the imaging unit can be changed by the user. And.

The present invention can provide a refrigerator in which an imaging device such as a camera can be installed at a desired position.

Perspective view of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention Schematic cross section of the refrigerator A perspective view showing the inside of the refrigerator when the storage room door is opened. (A) A perspective view in which the refrigerator is integrally equipped with a display terminal, and (b) a perspective view in which the refrigerator is detachably equipped with a display terminal. An example of mounting configuration of the display terminal used in the refrigerator is shown, (a) is a cross-sectional view when the display terminal is integrally mounted, and (b) is a cross-sectional view when the display terminal is detachably mounted. An example of the display visual recognition configuration of the display terminal used in the refrigerator is shown, (a) and (b) are schematic cross-sectional views when the door exterior plate is made of glass, and (c) is when the door exterior plate is made of a magic mirror. Schematic cross section of Vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of mounting an imaging unit of the refrigerator An example of mounting the image pickup unit of the refrigerator is shown, (a) is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator door portion with the door closed, and (b) is a front view of the inner surface side of the door when the door is opened. Explanatory drawing showing the image pickup unit, wireless repeater, public communication network, and display terminal attached to the refrigerator. System configuration diagram of the refrigerator system in the same embodiment Block diagram showing the refrigerator configuration of the refrigerator system Block diagram showing the server configuration of the refrigerator system A flowchart showing the operation from the imaging of the imaging unit used in the refrigerator system to the saving of the image on the display terminal. Flowchart of image display in the refrigerator in the refrigerator system Flowchart of continuous playback in the refrigerator in the refrigerator system

Hereinafter, specific and detailed embodiments of the present invention will be described, but first, the main points of the embodiments of the present invention will be described.

Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[Embodiment 1]
<1. Configuration>
1-1. Configuration Examples of Refrigerators First, a configuration example in the case of a French door type refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the refrigerator main body 1 has a metal (for example, iron plate) outer box 2 that opens forward, a hard resin (for example, ABS) inner box 3, and these outer boxes 2 and inner boxes 3. It is made of a heat insulating material 4 such as hard urethane foam filled with foam between the two. Further, in the heat insulating material 4, a vacuum heat insulating material 4a formed by sealing the core material with an outer cover material made of a metal film such as an aluminum sheet is embedded to enhance the heat insulating property. The refrigerator body 1 has a plurality of storage chambers formed inside the refrigerator body 1. This storage chamber is located below the refrigerating chamber 5, the switching chamber 6 located below the refrigerating chamber 5, and the ice making chamber 7, the switching chamber 6, and the ice making chamber 7 arranged side by side in the switching chamber 6 from the upper part of the refrigerator main body 1. There is a freezing room 8 and a vegetable room 9 located below the freezing room 8. Further, the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 5 is freely opened and closed by a double door 10, and the front portions of the switching chamber 6, the ice making chamber 7, the freezer compartment 8 and the vegetable compartment 9 are drawer-type doors 11, 12, and 13. , 14 (hereinafter referred to as a pull-out door) allows the door to be opened and closed freely.

There is a cooling chamber 16 on the back surface of the refrigerator body 1, a cooler 17 for generating cold air, a blower fan 18 for supplying cold air to each chamber, and a damper (air volume adjusting means) for adjusting the air volume to the refrigerating chamber. 22 is provided. Further, a compressor 19 is provided at the back of the top surface of the main body 1 of the refrigerator main body 1, and a condenser (not shown), a heat radiating pipe 20 for heat dissipation, a capillary tube 21, and the above-mentioned cooler 17 are sequentially arranged. The refrigerating cycle connected in a ring shape is filled with a refrigerant to perform a cooling operation.

Here, each of the doors 10 to 14 is filled with rigid urethane foam like the refrigerator body 1 and a vacuum heat insulating material 4a is embedded to provide heat insulating properties. In this refrigerator, the doors 10 to 14 are refrigerated. A display terminal 15 is provided on the front surface of one of the doors 10 of the storage room 5 which is a room. The display terminal 15 is formed of a smartphone, tablet PC, or the like capable of communicating with a public communication network such as the Internet, which will be described later, and integrally has a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel and a control unit for controlling the display unit. It is integrally attached to the door 10 as shown in a), or is detachably attached to the door 10 as shown in FIG. 4 (b), and is equipped by either method.

5 (a) and 5 (b) show an example of mounting configuration of the display terminal 15 on the door 10, FIG. 5 (a) shows the display terminal 15 when the display terminal 15 is integrally attached, and FIG. 5 (b) shows the display terminal 15. The case where it is attached detachably is shown.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B, the door 10 mainly includes an outer plate 10a facing the front side of the refrigerator, an inner plate 10b facing the inside of the refrigerator, and an outer plate 10a and an inner plate 10b. It is composed of a heat insulating material 4 filled between the two. The outer plate 10a is made of a metal member such as a colored steel plate or a transparent member such as a glass plate, and the inner plate 10b is a synthetic resin member formed by vacuum forming. A raised wall portion 10b-1 is provided around the inner plate 10b so as to have a square shape when viewed from the inside of the refrigerator and project to the inside of the refrigerator. Further, as described above, for example, hard urethane foam is used for the heat insulating material 4.

Further, in the door 10 of FIG. 5A in which the display terminal 15 is integrated, a resin storage frame 23 that continuously covers the heat insulating material 4 is provided on the front side of the door 10. (When the exterior plate 10a is a glass plate, it is integrally adhered to the glass plate). The display terminal 15 is fixed to the storage frame 23 via the terminal holder 24. A touch panel 25 is provided on the front side of the display terminal 15. A gap 26 is provided between the display terminal 15 and the touch panel 25 so that the touch panel 25 does not malfunction due to noise from the display terminal 15. The display terminal 15 and the touch panel 25 are fixed by attaching a frame body 27 covering the outer peripheral edge to the surface of the door 10. By providing the storage frame body 23 in this way, the heat insulating material 4 does not come into direct contact with the display terminal 15, so that the display terminal 15 is exposed to a high temperature or deformed when the heat insulating material 4 is foamed. It is possible to prevent problems such as On the other hand, in the door 10 of FIG. 5B in which the display terminal 15 is detachable, a recess 28 is formed by providing a storage frame 23 on the front surface of the door 10, and the display terminal 15 is attached to and detached from the recess 28. It is configured to do.

6 (a), (b), and (c) show an example of the display perspective configuration of the door 10 and the display terminal 15, and FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) show that the exterior plate 10a of the door 10 is a glass plate 10a. In the case of -1, FIG. 3C shows a case where the exterior plate 10a of the door 10 is composed of the magic mirror 10a-2.

In FIG. 6A, a smoke sheet 29 is provided between the display terminal 15 embedded in the door 10 and the glass plate 10a-1 so that only the portion facing the display terminal 15 is transparent, and the display terminal 15 is provided. Even when it is off and looks blackish, the glass plate 10a-1 portion other than the display terminal 15 also looks blackish due to the smoke sheet 29, and the boundary with the display terminal 15 is not conspicuous, so that the appearance can be maintained well. Further, in FIG. 6B, a transparent liquid crystal display unit is used as the display unit of the display terminal 15, and a smoke sheet 29a, which is entirely black, is laid along the back surface of the transparent liquid crystal display unit. Can be good. Further, in FIG. 6 (c), the glass plates 10a-1 of FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are used as magic mirrors 10a-2, and the smoke sheet 29 is not required. be able to. In each case, an example is shown in which the display terminal 15 is integrally attached to the door 10. Instead of the smoke sheet 29, the back side of the glass plate 10a-1 may be painted so as to look black.

7 and 8 (a) and 8 (b) show an example of mounting an imaging unit for in-house photography, FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a refrigerator with a door closed, and FIG. 8 (a) is the same. A cross-sectional view showing the inner surface of the door in a refrigerator with the door closed, FIG. 8B is a front view of the inner surface of the door when the door is opened.

In FIGS. 7, 8 (a) and 8 (b), the storage chamber 5 of the refrigerator is provided with shelf boards 30-1 to 30-4 in a plurality of upper and lower stages. The shelves 30-1 to 30-4 are made of a transparent material such as a transparent synthetic resin material or glass, except for the surrounding frame.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a storage container provided so as to be freely pulled out below the lowermost shelf board 30-4. Although the bottom shelf board 30-4 is fixed because it constitutes the upper surface of the storage container 31, the shelf boards 30-1 to 30-3 are convex side walls provided on both side walls of the storage chamber 5, respectively. It is mounted on parts 32-1 to 32-4 and is removable. In particular, among the shelf boards 30-1 to 30-3 excluding the bottom shelf board 30-4, the central shelf board 30-2 is provided with a plurality of corresponding side wall convex portions 32-2 at different heights. The height of the shelves can be adjusted.

33-1 to 33-3 are door pockets provided on the inner surface of the door 10 that opens and closes the opening of the storage chamber 5, and are provided in a plurality of upper and lower stages. The door pockets 33-1 to 33-3 are also made of a transparent material.

34-1 and 34-2 are interior lighting lights, which are provided on both side walls of the front opening and the upper wall surface of the front opening of the storage chamber 5 in front of the front ends of the shelf boards 30-1 to 30-4. .. In order to save energy, the interior lighting lamps 34-1 and 34-2 are provided with a substrate on which a plurality of LEDs are arranged, for example, in the vertical direction and covered with a translucent cover.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a detachable imaging unit provided so as to be located on the front side of the storage chamber 5 like the interior lighting lights 34-1 and 34-2, and images the storage chamber. Further, reference numeral 36 denotes a detachable wireless repeater provided at the end of the door near the rotation support portion of the door 10, which is paired with the imaging unit 35, and the wireless repeater 36 and the imaging unit 35 combine the imaging set 37. (See FIG. 9).

As shown in FIG. 9, the image pickup unit 35 is configured by integrating an image pickup device (hereinafter referred to as a camera) 38 such as a camera, a wireless device 39, an illuminance detection unit 40, a lighting device 41, and a power supply unit 42. It can be attached to any place in the storage room by mechanical fixing, a clip, a fixture with a suction plate, an adhesive, or the like.

The camera 38 of the image pickup unit 35 is composed of, for example, a CCD camera, a CMOS camera, or the like, and the type thereof is not particularly limited, but is resistant to dew condensation or the like.

Further, the wireless device 39 wirelessly communicates with the wireless repeater 36, and the wireless communication method is a communication method capable of good wireless communication even if a metal plate or the like is interposed with the wireless repeater 36. When the camera 38 captures an image, the wireless device 39 wirelessly transmits the image data to the wireless repeater 36, and an imaging instruction signal is transmitted from the portable display terminal 15 via a public communication network 56 such as the Internet, which will be described later. When it arrives, it receives this and supplies power to the camera 38 from the power supply unit 42 to operate the image pickup.

Further, the illuminance detection unit 40 detects when the illuminance in the storage chamber 5 exceeds a predetermined value and sends an imaging signal to the camera 38.

Further, the lighting device 41 is composed of an LED or the like and is integrally incorporated in the camera 38, and lights up when an image is taken by the camera 38 to secure the illuminance in the storage chamber 5.

Further, the power supply unit 42 serves as a power source for the camera 38, the illuminance detection unit 40, the lighting device 41, and the wireless device 39, and is configured by using a secondary or primary battery such as a lithium battery, and is a wireless device. When the 39 receives the imaging instruction signal, the camera 38 is supplied with power to image the inside of the storage chamber 5.

On the other hand, the wireless repeater 36 performs wireless communication with the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35 and also wirelessly communicates with a public communication network 56 such as the Internet, and communicates with the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35. It is provided with two types of wireless communication units, one wireless communication system and the second wireless communication system that wirelessly communicates with the public communication network 56. The first wireless communication method with the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35 is a radio wave having a frequency that enables good wireless communication even if a metal plate or the like is interposed with the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35 as described above. On the other hand, the second wireless communication method with the public communication network 56 is wireless communication such as WI-FI wireless communication using low frequency radio waves that enables good wireless communication even if there is a distance. There is a method.

Further, the wireless repeater 36 is provided at the door end near the rotation support portion of the door 10 as described above, but in addition, it faces the vacuum heat insulating material 4a embedded in the heat insulating material of the door 10. It is installed in a position that does not.

1-2. Overall Configuration of Refrigerator System Next, the entire refrigerator system constructed using the above-mentioned refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

FIG. 10 shows the overall configuration of the refrigerator system 50 using the above refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 10, the refrigerator system 50 is a system for confirming the state of foodstuffs in the refrigerator 51 by a display terminal 15 or the like.

The refrigerator system 50 includes a refrigerator 51 and a display terminal 15, and further includes a wireless repeater 36 of the refrigerator 51, a gateway device (relay device) 54, a router device 55, a public communication network 56 such as the Internet, and a server. Includes device 57.

The refrigerator 51 is arranged in the user's residence A, for example, in the kitchen room in the residence A. The refrigerator 51 is configured to communicate with the router device 55 via the wireless repeater 36 and the gateway device (relay device) 54, receives a signal transmitted from the router device 55, and receives the received signal in the refrigerator 51. It is transmitted to the wireless device 39 of the image pickup unit 35 set in the refrigerator. Based on this signal, the camera 38 of the image pickup unit 35 set in the refrigerator 51 is configured to execute the image pickup operation.

The wireless repeater 36 also transmits identification information (for example, serial number, model number, etc.) of the wireless repeater itself, image data in the refrigerator, which will be described later, to the router device 55 via the gateway device (relay device) 54. It is configured as follows.

As described above, the display terminal 15 is, for example, a general-purpose portable terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet PC (personal computer), and in the case of the present embodiment, the display terminal 15 can be attached to and detached from the door 10 of the refrigerator 51 described above. It is equipped with a function (means) for connecting to a public communication network 56 such as the Internet and a function (means) for communicating with a gateway device 54 described later.

The display terminal 15 (for example, a smartphone) is configured to be connected to a public communication network 56 such as the Internet via a telephone line network (for example, a 3G line network). In addition to or instead, for example, the display terminal 15 is configured to connect to a public communication network 56 such as the Internet via a public wireless LAN by a Wi-Fi communication function.

By connecting to a public communication network 56 such as the Internet, for example, the display terminal 15 transmits an image data acquisition program of foodstuffs in a refrigerator, which is the subject of the present invention, to an imaging unit 35 via the public communication network 56 such as the Internet. It can be obtained from the manufacturer's homepage. By installing the acquired program on the display terminal 15 and activating the installed program, the display terminal 15 can acquire image data and the like of foodstuffs in the refrigerator. That is, the display terminal 15 can generate and transmit an instruction signal for acquiring the image data of the refrigerator 51 by operating the operation screen of the display 15a.

The display terminal 15 is also connected to the router device 55 by general-purpose public communication such as Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, infrared communication, etc., which does not go through the Internet, and the gateway device via the router device 55. It is configured to make a communication connection to 54. A device for that purpose (for example, a Wi-Fi antenna or the like) is incorporated in the display terminal 15.

The gateway device (relay device) 54 is a device that relays communication between the wireless repeater 36 and the display terminal 15, and is, for example, a wireless repeater 36 and a specific low power radio frequency band (924.0 to 928.0 MHz). ) Is used for communication. The frequency band for communication between the gateway device 54 and the wireless repeater 53 is preferably a low frequency band that reaches a long distance, and is installed in the user's residence A in which the refrigerator 51 is installed together with the router device 55.

The gateway device 54 is also configured to communicate and connect to the display terminal 15 via the router device 55. That is, the gateway device 54 is configured so that communication (first communication) can be executed only through the router device 55 without going through a public communication network 56 such as the Internet.

The gateway device 54 is further configured to be connectable to a public communication network 56 such as the Internet via a router device 55. As a result, the gateway device 54 can communicate with the display terminal 15 (second communication) and also communicate with the server device 57 via the public communication network 56 such as the Internet and the router device 55.

Therefore, the gateway device 54 communicates with the display terminal 15 via the public communication network 56 such as the Internet (that is, the first communication only via the router device 55) and the communication via the public communication network 56 such as the Internet. (That is, a second communication via a public communication network 56 such as the Internet and a router device 55) can be executed. The reason for this configuration is to enable speedy communication using the first communication when the user is in the house and the public communication network 56 such as the Internet is congested.

The server device 57 is prepared, for example, by the manufacturer of the refrigerator or the image pickup unit 35. The server device 57 manages information and the like necessary for access and authentication with respect to the display terminal 15 and the wireless repeater 36. For example, in the server device 57, whether or not the identification information of the display terminal 15 included in the communication request signal matches the identification information of the display terminal 15 stored (registered) in association with the wireless repeater 36. Is authenticated (determined). Then, when these match, the server device 57 authenticates the display terminal 15 to be accessed as a legitimate display terminal, and permits communication with the image pickup unit 35 provided in the refrigerator 51 in the residence A.

Further, the server device 57 stores the image data of the foodstuff in the refrigerator transmitted from the image pickup unit 35 described above. This image data is transmitted to the display terminal 15 based on the data call signal from the display terminal 15. That is, the user can display and confirm the food material image data in the refrigerator on the display by operating the display terminal 15.

1-3. System section configuration of the refrigerator FIG. 11 shows the system section configuration of the refrigerator used in the refrigeration system.

In FIG. 11, the refrigerator 51 incorporates the image pickup unit 35 and the wireless repeater 36 already described. And, like a general refrigerator, it has a compressor drive circuit 63 of the compressor 19, a fan drive circuit 62 of the blower fan 18 for supplying cold air, a door open / close detection unit 61, interior lighting lights 34-1 and 34-2, and the like. It is controlled by the control unit 59.

1-4. Configuration of Server Device Next, a configuration example of the server device of the refrigerator system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the configuration of the server device 57 in FIG. 10 will be taken as an example.

As shown in FIG. 12, the server device 57 includes a server interface 65, a server control unit 66, and a data storage unit 67.

The server interface 65 is a communication unit that exchanges data and the like between the display terminal 15 and the router device 55 and the server device 57 via a public communication network 56 such as the Internet under the control of the server control unit 66.

The server control unit 66 controls the overall operation of the server device 57. The server control unit 66 also stores the image data of the foodstuffs transmitted from the imaging unit 35 in the data storage unit 67 together with the time information, and when there is a signal of a pre-transmission request for the image data from the display terminal 15, the data storage unit 66. The latest image data of the image data stored in 67 is transmitted to the display terminal 15 each time the image data is transmitted from the imaging unit 35, and the display terminal 15 stores the time information together with the time information for a certain period of time and rewrites and updates the data. .. Of course, when a data call signal is transmitted from the display terminal 15 without a signal for requesting advance transmission of image data, the latest image data stored in the data storage unit 67 is transmitted to the display terminal 15.

The data storage unit 67 stores necessary data such as a management program and an application program for executing the refrigerator system. Further, the data storage unit 67 rewrites and stores the latest data of the food material image data transmitted from the imaging unit 35 by adding time information under the control of the server control unit 66. The data storage unit 67 is composed of, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like.

The server device 57 can be constructed by either a server composed of a single large computer or a cloud-type server composed of a large number of computers.

<2. Operation>
Next, the operation of the refrigerator and the refrigerating system having the above configuration will be described. In each of the following explanations, the same operation will be described with the same step number.

In this system, the camera 38 of the image pickup unit 35 installed in the storage room of the refrigerator images the storage room, and this imaging is performed when the door is opened and closed to take in and out the food, or the user operates the display terminal 15. It is performed when the image is instructed.

The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the user opens the door 10 to put in and take out food (step 1-Y), the door open / close detection unit 61 detects this and the interior lighting lights 34-1 and 34-2 in the storage room are turned on. (Step 2). When the illuminance in the storage chamber becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value (step 3-Y), the illuminance detection unit 40 of the imaging unit 35 detects this, and the camera 38 images the storage chamber (step 4). This image data is transmitted from the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35 to the server device 57 via the wireless repeater 36 provided on the door 10, the gateway device (relay device) 54, the router device 55, and the public communication network 56 such as the Internet. (Step 5), the data is stored in the data storage unit 67 of the server device 57 (step 6). Then, when there is a pre-transmission request for image data from the display terminal 15 so that the image can be confirmed speedily even if the public communication network 56 such as the Internet is congested (step 7-Y), it is stored in the server device 57. The image data is transmitted to the display terminal 15 (step 8), and the image data is stored in the display terminal 15 (step 9).

On the other hand, although the door is not opened / closed for taking in / out the food, when the user operates the display terminal 15 to check the storage status of the food in the storage room from the store where the food is purchased, an imaging instruction is transmitted (step). 10-Y), the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35 receives this via the public communication network 56 such as the Internet, the router device 55, the gateway device (relay device) 54, and the wireless repeater 36, and the power supply unit 42 receives this. When it operates, the lighting device 41 of the image pickup unit 35 lights up (step 11), and power is supplied to the camera 38 to take an image of the storage room (step 4). After that, the same operation as after imaging when the door is opened and closed is performed.

Further, the image data transmitted as described above is reproduced and confirmed on the display terminal 15.

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of a normal internal image display. The user arbitrarily sets the display period or the date and time of the image in the refrigerator to be displayed from the display terminal 15, and performs the image acquisition operation of the display terminal 15. For example, a pre-transmission request is made from the display terminal 15, and an image in the refrigerator is acquired within a designated period. The flow of image data acquisition is as shown in FIG. The image in the refrigerator is stored in the display terminal 15 (step 12), and the display terminal 15 confirms the presence or absence of image data within the specified period from the stored images (step 13), and displays the image data in time series. And output to the display unit of the display terminal 15 (step 14). When the user presses the play button, the image data read in time series on the display unit of the display terminal 15 is automatically switched (step 15) and displayed to perform continuous playback. The timing of image switching is such that image switching is performed after a certain period of display time has elapsed or when there is an image feed operation by the user (step 16-Y). The image feed operation by the user can be browsed while skipping the image in the time width by pressing the feed button displayed on the display terminal 15 or using the seek bar. This makes it possible to search for images in the warehouse by specifying the date and time, and to continuously browse the images in the warehouse in chronological order, greatly reducing the time required for image search, and by using the seek bar, this makes it possible. It is possible to effectively find the desired image.

FIG. 15 shows a flowchart in the case where the change of the internal image is detected and the internal image is continuously reproduced. The image data is saved in the display terminal 15 and the image data is output to the display unit (step 21), and the user traces the displayed image in the refrigerator with a finger to specify the ingredients or the area in the refrigerator (step 22) and automatically plays back. By doing so, a specific area between the previously displayed image and the currently displayed image is compared (step 23), and if there is an image feed operation by the user (step 16-Y), the image is switched (step 16-Y). Step 15), when a change is detected, automatic playback is stopped (step 24). As a result, the user can easily know the change in the specific area in the refrigerator or the presence or absence of foodstuffs by performing automatic reproduction without checking the image data one by one, and can easily manage the inventory. Can be done. Further, by designating a specific area, the amount of image change detection processing can be reduced and a constant processing speed can be maintained. It is preferable that the control unit 59 of the refrigerator or the server control unit 66 of the server device 57 detects the presence or absence of the change by comparing the specific areas of the previously displayed image and the currently displayed image.

As described above with a specific configuration, the refrigerator and the refrigerator system according to the embodiment of the present invention can confirm the storage status of foodstuffs by the display terminal 15, but the configuration which is the gist of the present invention. According to the report, an image pickup device such as a camera can be installed at a desired position, which is convenient, and communication between the image pickup device 38 provided in the refrigerator and the public communication network 56 is also appropriately performed via the wireless repeater 36. Since this can be done, it is possible to provide a refrigerator that can satisfactorily check the storage state of foodstuffs in the refrigerator.

That is, in this refrigerator, the image pickup unit 35 in which the camera 38, the wireless device 39, and the power supply unit 42 are integrated is configured independently of the refrigerator main body 1 and the door 10, and is installed in the refrigerator storage chamber 5. In addition, a wireless repeater 36 that communicates with the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35 is separately provided, and the wireless repeater 36 is attached to the refrigerator body 1 or the door 10, so that the user is required. Depending on the situation, the image pickup unit 35, which is independent of the refrigerator body 1 and the door 10, can be installed at a desired place (where you want to see) in the storage room 5. Moreover, even if the wireless device 39 is surrounded by the metal exterior plate constituting the refrigerator main body 1 and the door 10 by providing the imaging unit 35 in the storage chamber 5, the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35 The communication between the user and the public communication network 56 can be relayed by the wireless repeater 36 to appropriately establish the communication. That is, when the wireless repeater 36 communicates wirelessly with the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35, it communicates by the first wireless communication method using radio waves having a frequency that enables good wireless communication even if a metal plate or the like is present. The wireless communication with the public communication network 56 such as the Internet is performed by the second communication method such as WI-FI wireless communication, which enables good wireless communication even if there is a distance. Good communication can be ensured by making the best use of it.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the wireless repeater 36 is provided at the end of the door 10, it is possible to establish communication with higher accuracy and to improve reliability. That is, since the end portion of the door 10 is a cut in the metal exterior plate and radio waves can easily pass through, it is possible to establish communication with higher accuracy.

Moreover, since the wireless repeater 36 is provided at a position not facing the vacuum heat insulating material 4a provided to improve the heat insulating property, the vacuum heat insulating material 4a is used for the refrigerator body 1 and the door 10. Even when the outer cover material is made of a metal film or the like, communication can be established with higher accuracy, and both reliability and heat insulation (energy saving) can be achieved at the same time.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the wireless repeater 36 is provided in the vicinity of the rotation indicating portion of the door 10, the impact received when the door 10 is closed is reduced, the durability is improved, and the door 10 is equipped with. Even if it is provided, its reliability can be improved.

Further, since the image pickup unit 35 is configured to supply power to the camera 38 from the power supply unit 42 when the wireless device 39 receives a radio wave, it is determined to take an image only when the radio wave is received. Become. Therefore, the power consumption is remarkably small as compared with the case where the power is constantly supplied to the camera 38 to take an image, and the life of the image unit 35 can be extended. In particular, since the image pickup unit 35 uses an independent power source such as a battery, extending the life is a very important requirement, which is a great effect.

Further, since the imaging unit 35 includes a lighting device 41 that illuminates the storage chamber 5 and is configured to supply power to the lighting device 41 when the wireless device 39 receives radio waves, the wireless device 39 transmits the radio waves. Since the lighting device 41 lights up when receiving and taking an image, the image in the storage chamber 5 can be satisfactorily taken. Further, since the imaging unit 35 itself can be illuminated, it is not necessary to change the illumination control on the refrigerator side, and the burden on the refrigerator side is reduced.

Further, the image pickup unit 35 includes an illuminance detection unit 40 that detects the illuminance in the storage chamber 5, and when the illuminance detection unit 40 detects a predetermined illuminance or more, the power supply unit 42 supplies power to the camera 38. When the door 10 is opened and the food is taken in and out, the internal lighting lights 34-1 and 34-2 are turned on, the illuminance detection unit 40 detects this, and the camera 38 is supplied with power to store the food. Take an image of the room. That is, it is possible to take an image at the timing of opening and closing the door (the timing when the illuminance in the refrigerator changes), and it is possible to reliably image the stored state after the food is taken in and out by opening and closing the door.

Further, the refrigerator system provided with the refrigerator 51 provided with the image pickup unit 35 and the display terminal 15 for communicating between the wireless repeater 36 of the refrigerator 51 allows the food storage status in the refrigerator to be checked. It can be known from the outside, improving convenience.

Furthermore, the present invention can wirelessly communicate with the image pickup unit 35 in which the camera 38, the wireless device 39, and the power supply unit 42 are integrated, and the wireless device 39 of the image pickup unit 35, and can also communicate with the public communication network 56. An imaging set 37 including a wireless repeater 36 is provided. Therefore, even a general refrigerator that does not have a communication function can be made into a refrigerator that has a communication function by installing the imaging set 37. Therefore, the user should purchase a general refrigerator, or purchase and install the image pickup set 37 in the refrigerator currently in use as needed to make it a so-called net home appliance having a communication function. The value of the refrigerator can be dramatically improved.

Further, the wireless repeater 36 of the imaging set 37 has two types, a first wireless communication system that communicates with the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35 and a second wireless communication system that wirelessly communicates with the public communication network. It has a wireless communication system, and the frequency of the wireless radio wave communicating with the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35 is higher than the frequency of the wireless radio wave communicating with the public communication network 56. As a result, good communication can be ensured even if the refrigerator body 1 and the metal exterior plate of the door 10 that easily block radio waves are interposed between the wireless device 39 of the imaging unit 35 and the wireless repeater 36, and the inside of the refrigerator can be secured. We can provide a refrigerator that can be used to check the storage status of foodstuffs.

The refrigerator, the refrigerator system, and the image pickup set for the refrigerator according to the present invention have been described above using the above-described embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, it should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. That is, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims are included.

For example, the refrigerator is a French door type refrigerator, but a single door type refrigerator may be used, and the image pickup unit 35 is provided near the front end of the shelf board in the storage room. It is not limited to the above, and the user may install it in a desired position, a favorite storage room, for example, a vegetable room, or the like.

Further, although the case where one image pickup unit 35 is provided in the storage chamber is illustrated, a plurality of image pickup units 35 may be provided, and when a plurality of image pickup units 35 are provided in the same storage room, the image captured by each image pickup unit 35 is captured by the server device 57. It suffices to combine them into one image and display it on the display terminal 15, and when the images are provided in different storage chambers, the usability is improved if each image can be selected and displayed.

Furthermore, although the wireless repeater 36 of the imaging set 37 is illustrated as being attached to the door 10, it may be attached to the refrigerator main body 1 side, and in each case, it is made of metal as described in the embodiment. It is recommended to install it near the cut of the exterior plate or in a place where there is little impact when opening and closing the door.

Further, in the embodiment, the image pickup unit 35 provided with the lighting device 41 is illustrated, but this may be shared by the internal lighting lamps 34-1 and 34-2 provided on the refrigerator side. In this case, when the wireless device 39 of the image pickup unit 35 receives the image pickup instruction signal, for example, it sounds and the refrigerator side detects this and takes a linking means such as turning on the lighting lamps 34-1 and 34-2 in the refrigerator. This is possible in the case of a newly produced type refrigerator that can incorporate a linking means.

According to the present invention, an image pickup device such as a camera can be installed at a desired position, which improves usability and ensures communication between the image pickup device provided in the refrigerator and a public communication network via a wireless repeater. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator that can satisfactorily check the storage state of foodstuffs in the refrigerator, and it can be applied to various refrigerators, showcases, etc., including household refrigerators.

1 Refrigerator body 4 Insulation 5 Refrigerator room (storage room)
6 Switching room 7 Ice making room 8 Freezing room 9 Vegetable room 10 Door (insulated door)
11-14 Pull-out door (insulated door)
15 Display terminal (image display means)
16 Cooling room 17 Cooler 18 Blower fan 19 Compressor 20 Heat dissipation pipe 21 Capillary tube 22 Damper 30-1 to 30-4 Shelf board 33-1 to 3-8 Door pocket 34-1, 34-2 Interior lighting 35 Imaging Unit 36 Wireless repeater 37 Imaging set 38 Camera (imaging device)
39 Wireless device 40 Illuminance detector 41 Lighting device 42 Power supply unit 50 Refrigerator system 51 Refrigerator 53 Wireless adapter (communication device)
54 Gateway device (relay device)
55 Router device 56 Public communication network 57 Server device 59 Control unit 60 Storage unit 61 Door open / close detection unit 62 Fan drive circuit 63 Compressor drive circuit 64 AC power supply 66 Server control unit 67 Data storage unit A Residence

Claims (9)

A refrigerator with at least one storage room
The door that covers the storage room and
An imaging unit in which an imaging device that images the inside of the storage chamber and a first wireless communication device that executes wireless communication are integrated.
A second wireless communication device for executing wireless communication provided on the door is provided.
The first wireless communication device transmits the image data captured by the image pickup device to the second wireless communication device.
The second wireless communication device transmits the image data to the outside of the refrigerator, and the second wireless communication device transmits the image data to the outside of the refrigerator.
A refrigerator in which the installation location of the imaging unit can be changed by the user. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication device is provided at the end of the door. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the second wireless communication device is provided at an end near a rotation support portion of a door. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second wireless communication device is provided on the upper part of the door. A refrigerator with at least one storage room
An imaging unit in which an imaging device that images the inside of the storage chamber and a first wireless communication device that executes wireless communication are integrated.
It is equipped with a second wireless communication device that executes wireless communication, which is provided in the refrigerator body.
The first wireless communication device transmits the image data captured by the image pickup device to the second wireless communication device.
The second wireless communication device transmits the image data to the outside of the refrigerator, and the second wireless communication device transmits the image data to the outside of the refrigerator.
A refrigerator in which the installation location of the imaging unit can be changed by the user. The image pickup unit further includes a power supply unit for driving the image pickup device, and when the first wireless communication device receives an image pickup instruction, the power supply unit starts power supply to the image pickup device. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The imaging unit further includes a lighting device that illuminates the storage chamber, and when the first wireless communication device receives an imaging instruction, the imaging device executes imaging after the lighting device is turned on. The refrigerator according to any one of 1 to 6. Claims 1 to 6 are provided with an illuminance device for illuminating the storage room and an illuminance detection unit for detecting the illuminance in the storage room, and when the illuminance detection unit detects a predetermined illuminance or more, the image pickup device captures images. The refrigerator according to any one item. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second wireless communication device transmits the image data to the server device via the Internet.

Images