JPWO2018116390A1 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to prevent a dark image with poor visibility from being photographed in a dark state in a refrigerator in a refrigerator that can photograph and provide an image in the refrigerator. The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a brightness detection unit that detects the brightness inside the storage unit to which light is emitted by the light source when the door of the refrigerator main body is closed, and the inside of the cabinet where the brightness detection unit is detected. When the brightness is dark, the image capturing restriction unit that restricts the image capturing of the camera is provided, so that it is possible to suppress the image capturing of a dark image with poor visibility when the inside of the refrigerator is dark.

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a refrigerator provided with a camera for photographing the inside of the refrigerator so as to confirm the food in the refrigerator from the outside, and providing the photographed image to the outside. In such a refrigerator for photographing the inside of the refrigerator, it is necessary to adjust the brightness of the photographed image appropriately by the camera, so the amount of light incident on the camera corresponding to the illuminance of the lamp inside the refrigerator illuminating the refrigerator. The exposure control part which controls (exposure) was provided (for example, patent document 1).

JP, 2015-135206, A

  In the case of the conventional refrigerator as described above, the interior of the refrigerator is photographed with the maximum exposure even when the interior is dark, such as when the interior light is broken when the door of the refrigerator is closed, Even if the exposure is maximized, there is a problem that a dark and low-visibility image is taken.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to suppress the capture of an image that is dark and has poor visibility in a dark state of the inside of a cabinet.

  In the refrigerator according to the present invention, when the brightness in the refrigerator detected when the door of the refrigerator body is closed is limited, the photographing by the camera is limited.

  According to the present invention, since the shooting of the camera is limited when the detected brightness is dark, it is possible to suppress the shooting of a dark image with poor visibility in a dark state of the inside of the cabinet.

Front view of a refrigerator according to the present invention Explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1-3 Function block diagram showing a configuration relating to in-chamber imaging in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment Flow chart showing processing realized by the imaging control board of the first embodiment Flow chart showing processing realized by the refrigerator control board of the first embodiment Function block diagram showing a configuration relating to in-chamber imaging in the refrigerator of the second embodiment Flow chart showing processing realized by the imaging control board of the second embodiment Function block diagram showing a configuration related to in-chamber imaging in the refrigerator according to the third embodiment Flow chart showing processing realized by the imaging control board of the third embodiment Flow chart showing processing realized by the refrigerator control board of the third embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the refrigerator in Embodiment 4 In the refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment, a functional block diagram showing a configuration relating to in-chamber imaging Flow chart showing processing realized by the imaging control board of the fourth embodiment

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the door of the refrigerator compartment is opened. Moreover, FIG. 2 is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of this refrigerator, has cut | disconnected in the cutting plane parallel to the side of a refrigerator, and has shown the outline of a structure.

  The refrigerator 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a housing 2 provided with a refrigerator compartment door 12 and a housing 2 provided in the housing 2 and housed inside the refrigerator 100 and housing articles such as food inside. The refrigerator room 3, the switching room 4, the ice making room 5, the freezing room 6, and the vegetable room 7 are provided. The switching room 4 is a storage room that can be set to a plurality of temperature zones from a vegetable temperature zone (3 to 10 ° C.) suitable for vegetable storage to a frozen temperature zone (-15 ° C. or less) suitable for frozen storage is there. In addition, the refrigerator 100 is provided with a compressor 8, a heat exchanger 9, and a blower 10 that constitute a cooling unit in the lower space on the back side of the housing 2, and the cold air generated by the cooling unit is circulated to the respective storage sections. Cool. Moreover, the refrigerator compartment 3 is a door-type storage part in which the refrigerator door which can be rotated to the front right and left is provided. The switching room 4, the ice making room 5, the freezing room 6, and the vegetable room 7 are drawer-type storage parts which can be pulled out from the inside of the housing 2, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the vegetable room 7 is drawn. .

  The interior of the refrigerator compartment 3 (hereinafter referred to as the interior of the refrigerator) is partitioned by a plurality of storage shelves 11. An interior lamp 21 as a light source for irradiating the interior of the interior with light is provided on the interior side of the interior of the interior. An operation unit 14 for a user to operate the temperature and the like of the refrigerator 100 is provided outside the three cold storage rooms of the cold storage room door 12.

  Further, an open / close sensor 20 for detecting opening / closing of the refrigerator compartment door 12 and a camera 23 as a photographing unit for photographing the inside of the refrigerator compartment are provided on the refrigerator compartment 3 side of the refrigerator compartment door 12. Further, inside the camera 23, a brightness sensor 22 for detecting the brightness in the storage is built.

  A refrigerator control board 24 for controlling the cooling unit is provided on the upper rear side in the housing 2 and the compressor 8 of the refrigeration unit, the blower 10 and the like are electrically connected. Further, a photographing control board 25 for controlling the camera 23 is provided in the inside of the refrigerator compartment door 12, and is electrically connected to the camera 23 and the refrigerator control board.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration related to in-chamber imaging in the refrigerator 100 according to the first embodiment.

  The imaging control board 25 includes an imaging control unit 37 that controls the imaging in the storage by the camera 23 according to the opening and closing of the refrigerator compartment door 12 and the counting time of a timer. In addition, the photographing control board 25 detects the opening and closing of the refrigerator compartment door 12 based on the signal detected by the opening and closing sensor 20, and the information of the internal light 21 based on the information received from the opening and closing detection unit 31 or the timer 33. A light source control unit 32 that controls lighting or extinguishing, a brightness sensor control unit 34 that controls the brightness sensor 22 based on information received from the open / close detection unit 31 or the timer 33, and a signal detected by the brightness sensor 22 When the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 that detects brightness information and the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness, the shooting control unit 37 performs in-box shooting with the camera 23. And a photography restriction unit 36 for restriction.

  The refrigerator control board 24 controls the refrigeration unit, receives imaging data from the imaging control board 25, and transmits the imaging data to an external device. The refrigerator control board 24 has an image processing unit 40 that processes an image based on the received shooting data, a recording unit 41 that records and stores the image processed by the image processing unit 40, and image information stored in the recording unit 41. The communication unit 42 transmits image data as an image data to an external device.

  Each configuration of FIG. 1 will be described in more detail. The camera 23 is controlled by the photographing control unit 37 to control the photographing operation, and performs in-chamber photographing by two kinds of photographing operations. The first photographing operation is a normal photographing performed based on the opening and closing of the refrigerator compartment door 12 and is performed after the user opens and then closes the refrigerator compartment door 12. The second shooting operation is shooting for a set time for shooting at a set time. In the first embodiment, the set time in the set time imaging will be described as a time for each fixed time in which the set fixed time repeatedly elapses.

The opening and closing sensor 20 detects the opening and closing of the refrigerator compartment door 12 by the user. Based on the detection signal from the open / close sensor 20, the open / close detection unit 31 detects whether the refrigerator compartment door 12 is in an open state or a closed state. The open / close signal detected by the open / close detection unit 31 is transmitted to the light source control unit 32, the brightness sensor control unit 34, and the photographing control unit 37 as the open / close information of the refrigerator compartment door 12.
The interior light 21 is such that when the open / close detection unit 31 detects that the cold storage door 12 is opened, the interior light is irradiated with light so that the user can easily view the interior of the storage. Furthermore, the interior light 21 irradiates the interior of the storage room with light when the camera 23 captures the inside of the storage room with the refrigerator compartment door 12 closed, so that the camera 23 can be captured when the interior of the storage room is bright. is there.

The brightness sensor 22 is built in the camera 23 and detects the brightness inside the refrigerator compartment 3 to which light is emitted by the interior lamp 21 when the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed. The brightness sensor control unit 34 controls activation and stop of the brightness sensor 22.
When the camera 23 receives a photographing instruction signal from the photographing control unit 37, the camera 23 photographs the inside of the chamber to generate image data. The photographed image data is transmitted to the image processing unit 40 of the refrigerator control board 24.

The light source control unit 32 turns on or off the internal light 21 in accordance with the opening / closing of the refrigerator compartment door 12 and the timed time of the timer. When the open / close signal received from the open / close detection unit 31 indicates that the cold storage door 12 is opened, the light source control unit 32 transmits a signal to light the internal lamp 21. When the open / close signal received from the open / close detection unit 31 indicates that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed, the counting time of the timer 33 is stored after a predetermined time has elapsed since the refrigerator compartment door 12 was closed. A signal to turn off the internal light 21 is transmitted. Here, the predetermined time is a time set in advance, and when the camera 23 photographs the inside of the refrigerator after the refrigerator door 12 is closed, the lamp 21 is turned on so that the inside of the refrigerator becomes bright. It is time to keep
In addition, regardless of the opening and closing of the refrigerator compartment door 12 as described above, the light source control unit 32 turns on the internal light 21 every time the counting time of the timer 33 elapses for a set time set for photographing for the set time. Turn off. As a result, when the camera 23 shoots the inside of the storage at regular time intervals, the inside of the storage becomes bright.

  The brightness sensor control unit 34 activates the brightness sensor 22 in accordance with the opening / closing of the refrigerator compartment door 12 and the counting time of the timer 33. The brightness sensor control unit 34 activates the brightness sensor 22 when the user opens the refrigerator compartment door 12 and then closes it, or when the time counted by the timer 33 has passed a predetermined time. Here, when the user opens the refrigerator compartment door 12 and then closes it means that an open / close signal indicating that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is opened from the open / close detection unit 31 and an open / close indicating that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed This is when the brightness sensor control unit 34 is continuously received with the signal.

  The brightness detection unit 35 receives a signal based on the brightness inside the refrigerator compartment 3 detected by the brightness sensor 22 and transmits the signal as brightness information to the photographing restriction unit 36. Since the brightness sensor 22 is activated by the brightness sensor control unit 34 when the refrigerator door 12 is closed, the brightness sensor 22 receives light by the refrigerator light 21 with the refrigerator door 12 closed. The brightness inside the refrigerator compartment 3 to be irradiated is detected. The brightness detected by the brightness sensor 22 corresponds to the brightness in the range photographed by the camera 23. The brightness information detected by the brightness detection unit 35 may be information indicating the brightness such as the amount of light inside the cold storage compartment 3, the illuminance, the brightness, and the like.

When the brightness information received from the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness information, the shooting restriction unit 36 only stops shooting for a set time among the two types of shooting operations by the shooting control unit 37. Thus, the photographing by the camera 23 is limited. In the first embodiment, the photographing for the set time is stopped but the normal photographing is continued.
Further, in the brightness information set as a reference for determining the brightness received from the brightness detection unit 35, the user is dark among the brightness corresponding to the brightness information detected by the brightness detection unit 35 in the past. Therefore, the brightness is used to judge that the image is bad in visibility.
The photographing control unit 37 controls the photographing in the storage by the camera 23 according to the opening and closing of the refrigerator compartment door 12, the counting time of the timer, and the restriction by the photographing restriction unit 36.

The image processing unit 40 receives the image data captured by the camera 23, adjusts the brightness of the image, sharpens the image, and corrects the image to an optimal image.
The recording unit 41 records and stores the received image data.
The communication unit 42 transmits a signal to display the image data stored in the recording unit 41 on a display unit or the like of the external device. When displaying the image data on an external device, the communication unit 42 transmits the image data via the network. In addition, a display part may be provided in the refrigerator 100 and it may be made to display.

  Next, the operation of the refrigerator 100 in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing processing implemented by the photographing control board 25 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing processing implemented by the refrigerator control board 24 according to the first embodiment.

  When the refrigerator 100 is activated in step S10, the timer 33 is activated and clocking is started. Next, in step S11, it is determined whether the counting time of the timer 33 has passed a predetermined time in order to determine whether or not to perform shooting for the set time. If a predetermined time has not elapsed in step S11 (step S11: No), the process proceeds to step S12 to determine whether normal imaging is performed, and the open / close detection unit 31 detects whether the refrigerator compartment door 12 is open. Do.

When the refrigerator compartment door 12 is in the closed state in step S12 (step S12: No), since it is not necessary to perform normal imaging, the process returns to step S11. While checking progress of fixed time by repeating step S11 and step S12, it is monitoring that the refrigerator compartment door 12 was opened in it.
If the predetermined time has elapsed in step S11 (step S11: Yes), the process proceeds to step S13 to perform set time imaging, and if the predetermined time has not elapsed, the refrigerator compartment door 12 is opened in step S12 If it is determined that there is no (step S12: Yes), the process also proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the light source control unit 32 transmits a lighting signal to light the internal light 21 to light the internal light 21.
When the internal light 21 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S14, and the open / close detection unit 31 detects whether the cold storage door 12 is closed.

  In a state where it is not detected that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed in step S14 (step S14: No), the process returns to step S13 and continues lighting of the internal light 21 by the light source control unit 32 and repeats step 13 and step S14. . When it is detected in step S14 that the cold storage door 12 is closed (Yes in step S14), the open / close detection unit 31 transmits open / close information indicating that the cold storage door 12 is closed, and the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S15, when receiving the open / close information indicating that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed, the imaging control unit 37 transmits a control signal to cause the camera 23 to image the inside of the compartment. When the camera 23 receives the control signal from the photographing control unit 37, the camera 23 photographs the inside of the storage. Further, the open / close information is also sent to the brightness sensor control unit 34, and when the brightness sensor control unit 34 receives the open / close information indicating that the cold storage door 12 is closed, the brightness sensor 22 is activated in step S16. A signal based on the inside brightness detected by the brightness sensor 22 is sent to the brightness detection unit 35 and is sent to the photographing restriction unit 36 as brightness information.
Then, after a lapse of time after the end of shooting by the camera 23 in step S17, the light source control unit 32 turns off the interior light 21 and proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, the shooting restriction unit 36 determines whether the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness. When the detected brightness is not darker than the set brightness (step S18: No), the inside of the storage has a brightness suitable for photographing. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 19, the image data captured by the camera 23 is transmitted to the refrigerator control board 24, and the process returns to step S11.
Here, the set brightness means that the brightness suitable for photographing is obtained in advance by measurement or the like, and is set as a threshold. Besides, among the brightness corresponding to the brightness information detected by the brightness detecting unit 35 in the past, the brightness corresponding to the image which the user judged as dark and poor in visibility is designated and set. It is also good.

  If the detected brightness is darker than the set brightness (step S18: Yes), the brightness necessary for shooting is insufficient, so the shooting restriction unit 36 sends a signal to notify information on brightness shortage in step S20. Send The cause of the lack of brightness is shooting of the camera 23 in which the brightness sensor 22 is integrated when the internal light 21 fails and does not light up or the illuminance is lowered due to the life and sufficient brightness for shooting can not be obtained. Since the surface is covered by the stored items, it may be considered that sufficient brightness can not be obtained for shooting. Therefore, the photographing restriction unit 36 may transmit a signal notifying the information on the insufficient brightness as a signal notifying the information indicating that the internal lamp 21 is broken.

If the detected brightness is darker than the set brightness, control is performed to stop shooting for a set time and execute only normal shooting (steps S21 to S23). That is, after transmitting the signal notifying the information of the insufficient brightness in step S20, the process proceeds to step S21, and when the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed in step S21 (step S21: No), the refrigerator compartment door 12 is By repeating step S21 until it becomes an open state, it monitors that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is open. If it is detected that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is opened in step S21 (step S21: Yes), the process proceeds to step S22, and the light source control unit 32 transmits a lighting signal to light the internal light 21 to light the internal light 21 .
When the interior light 21 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S23. When the refrigerator compartment door 12 is open at step S23 (step S23: No), the light source control unit 32 continues lighting the interior light 21. Step S23 is repeated. When the refrigerator compartment door 12 is in the closed state in step S23 (step S23: Yes), the open / close detection unit 31 transmits the open / close information based on the opened refrigerator compartment door 12 and returns to step S15. To be done.
As described above, when the detected brightness is darker than the set brightness in step S18, the control for executing the normal shooting in steps S21 to S23 is performed, and thereafter, the process returns to step S15 and the normal shooting is performed. Continue the action taken. By returning to this step S15, the imaging for the set time which is operated from the step S11 to the step S12 is not performed, which corresponds to stopping the imaging for the set time.

  In addition, when the image data which the camera 23 image | photographed in step S19 is transmitted to the refrigerator control board 24, in the refrigerator control board 24, operation | movement like the flowchart of FIG. 5 is performed. The transmitted image data is received by the image processing unit 40 of the refrigerator control board 24 (step S24), the brightness of the image is adjusted (step S25), and after the image is sharpened (step S26), recording is performed. It is stored in the unit 41 (step S27). The stored image data is transmitted from the communication unit 42 to an external device or the like (step S28). The image data may not be transmitted each time a picture is taken, but may be stored in the recording unit 41 and transmitted when a transmission request is made.

According to the refrigerator 100 according to the first embodiment as described above, when the brightness information received from the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness information, the shooting control unit 37 stops shooting for a set time only. By doing this, it is possible to limit the shooting by the camera 23, so it is possible to suppress the shooting of an image that is dark and has poor visibility when the inside of the cabinet is dark.
In addition, as a criterion for determining the brightness received from the brightness detection unit 35, the user determines that the image is dark and the visibility is poor among the brightness corresponding to the brightness information detected by the brightness detection unit 35 in the past. Using the appropriate brightness, it is possible to reflect the judgment based on the actual user's visibility, and when the brightness sensor 22 detects light but the light incident on the camera 23 is not sufficient. In addition, it is possible to suppress that a dark and low-visibility image is taken.

  In addition, since the photographing control unit 37 stops photographing for a set time to restrict photographing by the camera 23, unnecessary power consumption for photographing an image which is dark and has poor visibility can be reduced. Furthermore, since unnecessary image data can be prevented from being recorded in the recording unit 41, the capacity of the recording unit 41 can be used effectively.

In addition, when the brightness information received from the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness information, the photographing restriction unit 36 causes the refrigerator 100 to display a signal indicating that the brightness is insufficient via the communication unit 42. If the information is sent to an external device such as a display unit or a portable terminal, the user in the display unit or portable terminal that has received the information on the insufficient brightness has insufficient brightness in the storage. Can be presented. Thereby, the user can take measures for the failure when the interior light 21 is broken, or the camera 23 is appropriate when the lightness is insufficient due to the front surface of the camera 23 being covered or the like. You can take measures to make it possible to take pictures.
In addition, the imaging control unit 36 may transmit a signal for notifying the information of the insufficient brightness to the display unit or the external device as a signal for notifying the information that the internal lamp 21 is broken. As a result, the user can confirm that the cause of the insufficient brightness is that the internal lamp 21 is broken.

  In addition, as described above, when the detected brightness is darker than the set brightness in step S18, the normal shooting is performed in which steps S21 to S23 are performed and the process returns to step S15 to perform step S18. The photographing for the set time from step S11 to step S12 is stopped. As described above, when normal shooting is continued and stoppage of shooting for the set time is performed by passing step S11 to step S12, for example, the failure of the interior light 21 is recovered or the camera 23 Since the brightness detected in step S18 becomes darker than the set brightness (No in step S18) when the brightness inside the storage is restored, for example, when the storage item covering the imaging surface is removed, the step S11 Return to and automatically start shooting again for the set time.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration related to shooting in the refrigerator in the refrigerator 100 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing implemented by the shooting control board 25 of the refrigerator 100 according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same parts as the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

  In the first embodiment, when it is determined in step S11 to step S14 that shooting for a set time or normal shooting is to be performed, the process proceeds to step S15, shooting in the storage with the camera 23 and detection of brightness information by the brightness detection unit 35 After that, the photographing restriction unit 36 judges the restriction of photographing. In the second embodiment, when it is determined that it is time to perform shooting for a set time or normal shooting, first, whether the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is brighter than the set brightness, that is, the shooting restriction unit 36 shoots. After judging whether or not to limit, shooting is performed only when the brightness in the storage is sufficient for shooting.

  When it is detected that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed in step S14 of FIG. 6 (step S14: Yes), the open / close detection unit 31 transmits open / close information indicating that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed, and proceeds to step S35. . When the brightness sensor control unit 34 receives the open / close information indicating that the cold storage door 12 is closed, the brightness sensor control unit 34 activates the brightness sensor 22 in step S35. A signal based on the brightness inside the refrigerator compartment 3 detected by the brightness sensor 22 is sent to the brightness detection unit 35 and sent to the photographing restriction unit 36 as brightness information, and the process proceeds to step S36.

  In step S36, the photographing restriction unit 36 determines whether the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness. If the detected brightness is not darker than the set brightness (step S36: No), the inside of the storage unit has a brightness suitable for photographing. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S37, and the photographing control unit 37 causes the camera 23 to photograph the inside of the storage. Then, after the photographing by the camera 23 is finished, the internal light is turned off (step S38), and the image data is transmitted to the image processing unit 40 of the refrigerator control board 24 (step S39).

  If it is determined in step S36 that the detected brightness is darker than the set brightness (step S36: Yes), the brightness necessary for shooting is insufficient, and therefore the shooting restriction unit 36 performs information on brightness shortage in step S40. Send a signal to inform Further, control is performed to stop shooting for a set time and execute only normal shooting (steps S41 to S43).

  According to the refrigerator 100 according to the second embodiment as described above, the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is brighter than the set brightness first when it is determined that the timing for performing the set time shooting or the normal shooting is determined. That is, it is determined whether the photographing restriction unit 36 restricts photographing. Therefore, unnecessary imaging can be suppressed when the brightness in the storage is insufficient. In addition, since the information on the insufficient brightness is notified before photographing, the user can recognize that the photographing can not be properly performed more quickly.

Third Embodiment
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration related to shooting in the refrigerator in the refrigerator 100 according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same parts as the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

  In the first and second embodiments, the brightness information is detected from the brightness detected by the brightness sensor 22. However, in the third embodiment, the brightness information is detected from the image data captured by the camera 23. It is a thing.

  In the third embodiment, it is not necessary to incorporate the brightness sensor 22 in the camera 23 in order to detect the brightness from the image data. On the other hand, the refrigerator control board 24 has a brightness detection unit 35 for detecting brightness from image data captured by the camera 23 and whether the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness. A photographing restriction unit 36 for judging is provided.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing processing realized by the photographing control board 25 of the refrigerator 100 according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing processing realized by the refrigerator control board 24 of the refrigerator 100 according to the third embodiment. is there.
When it is detected that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed in step S14 of FIG. 9 (step S14: Yes), the open / close detection unit 31 transmits open / close information indicating that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed, and proceeds to step S55. . When the photographing control unit 37 receives open / close information indicating that the refrigerator compartment door 12 is closed, the photographing control unit 37 transmits a control signal to cause the camera 23 to photograph the inside of the refrigerator. When the camera 23 receives the control signal from the photographing control unit 37, the camera 23 photographs the inside of the storage. After the lapse of time after the end of shooting by the camera 23 in step S56, the light source control unit 32 turns off the internal light 21 and transmits the image data shot by the camera 23 to the refrigerator control board 24 (step S57).

  When the image data captured by the camera 23 is transmitted to the refrigerator control board 24 in step S57, the refrigerator control board 24 performs an operation as shown in the flow chart of FIG. The transmitted image data is received by the brightness detection unit 35 of the refrigerator control board 24 (step S70). When receiving the image data, the brightness detection unit 35 detects, from the image data, the brightness in the refrigerator to which light is emitted by the refrigerator light 21 with the refrigerator door 12 closed in step S71, and the photographing restriction unit 36 Send to Here, as a method of detecting the brightness from the image data, for example, the brightness is detected on the basis of the luminance signal of the image data in the memory taken by the camera 23.

  In step S72, the photographing restriction unit 36 determines whether the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness. When the detected brightness is not darker than the set brightness (step S72: No), the inside of the storage has a brightness suitable for photographing. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 73, and after the adjustment of the brightness of the image (step S73) and the sharpening of the image (step S74) are performed, the image is stored in the recording unit 41 (step S75). The stored image data is transmitted from the communication unit 42 to an external device or the like (step S76), and the process proceeds to step S77.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S72 that the detected brightness is not darker than the set brightness (step S72: No), the process also proceeds to step S77. In step S77, the photographing restriction unit 36 transmits to the photographing control board 25 a result of determining whether the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness in step S72.

  When the result is transmitted to the imaging control board 25 in step S77, the imaging control board 25 receives the result in step S58 of FIG. When the result of the reception indicates that the detected brightness is not darker than the set brightness (step S59: No), the inside of the storage unit has an appropriate brightness for photographing, so the process returns to step S11.

  When the result of the reception indicates that the detected brightness is darker than the set brightness (step S59: Yes), the brightness required for shooting is insufficient, so the shooting restriction unit 36 determines that the brightness is insufficient at step S60. Send a signal to broadcast information. Further, control is performed to stop shooting for a set time and execute only normal shooting (step 61 to step S63).

  According to the refrigerator 100 according to the third embodiment as described above, it is not necessary to provide the brightness sensor 22 in the refrigerator in order to detect the brightness in the refrigerator from the image data captured by the camera 23. Further, since brightness information can be detected from the image data to be transmitted, it is not necessary to adjust the level of the brightness information detected by the brightness detection unit 35 and the brightness in the photographed image data, Or you can easily make adjustments.

  In the third embodiment, the case where the brightness sensor 22 is not provided in the refrigerator has been described. However, in addition to the configuration of the third embodiment, the brightness sensor 22 is provided in the refrigerator and the brightness detection is performed by the brightness sensor 22. For example, even if the brightness sensor is broken, the photographing restriction unit 36 may make an appropriate determination based on the image data if it can be performed from either the detection signal of Therefore, unnecessary shooting can be suppressed because shooting can not be continued while the interior is dark.

In the first to third embodiments, the camera 23 captures an image of the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may capture other storage sections.
Moreover, although the camera 23 shall be provided in the refrigerator compartment door 12, it should just be provided in the position which can image | photograph the inside of a storage or the inside of a storage part.
Although the brightness sensor 22 is incorporated in the camera 23, the brightness sensor 22 may be provided outside the camera 23 as an individual component. However, it is assumed that the brightness sensor 22 is provided at a position where the brightness in the storage in the range where the camera 23 shoots can be detected.

Fourth Embodiment
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of the refrigerator 200 according to the fourth embodiment, and shows an outline of the configuration by cutting along a cutting plane parallel to the side surface of the refrigerator.
In the first embodiment, the internal light 21 for illuminating the inside of the storage is used as a light source for imaging in the storage, and the apparatus for capturing an image with this illumination light has been described. An apparatus for performing in-house imaging with the illumination light of the vegetable room illumination 51 using the F.51 will be described.

  The refrigerator 200 has a vegetable room storage unit 16 in which the vegetable room 7 is stored. The vegetable compartment storage unit 16 is provided with a camera 50 for photographing the inside of the vegetable compartment 7 (hereinafter referred to as a vegetable compartment) and a vegetable compartment illumination 51 as a light source for irradiating the vegetable compartment 7 with light. The vegetable room lighting 51 repeats lighting and extinguishing at a set cycle for the purpose of increasing the amount of vitamins by light, and includes a plurality of LEDs. The cycle in which the vegetable room light 51 is turned on and off is set to the refrigerator control board 24. The photographing restriction unit 36 controls the camera 50 to perform photographing for a set time in synchronization with the lighting timing of the vegetable room lighting 51. Thereby, even when the vegetable room 7 is stored in the vegetable room storage unit 16, the camera 50 can photograph the inside of the room when the inside of the room is illuminated and brightened.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration related to photographing in a vegetable room in the refrigerator 200 according to the fourth embodiment. The imaging control substrate 25 includes a vegetable room lighting control unit 52 that controls lighting and extinguishing of the vegetable room lighting 51. A cycle for turning on and off the vegetable room illumination 51 is recorded in the vegetable room illumination control unit 52, and the vegetable room illumination 51 is controlled in accordance with the timed time of the timer 33.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing processing realized by the refrigerator control board 24 of the refrigerator 100 according to the third embodiment.
When the refrigerator 200 is activated in step S80, the timer 33 is activated and clocking is started. Next, in step S81, it is determined whether it is the lighting time of the vegetable room lighting 51 or not. When it is not lighting time by step S81 (step S81: No), step S81 is repeated. When it is lighting time by step S81 (step S81: Yes), the vegetable compartment lighting control part 52 transmits the lighting signal which makes the vegetable compartment lighting 51 light in step S82, and makes the vegetable compartment lighting 51 light. In addition, the brightness sensor control unit 34 activates the brightness sensor 22 in step S83. A signal based on the brightness in the vegetable room detected by the brightness sensor 22 is sent to the brightness detection unit 35 and sent to the photographing restriction unit 36 as brightness information, and the process proceeds to step S84.

  In step S84, the photographing restriction unit 36 determines whether the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness. When the detected brightness is not darker than the set brightness (step S84: No), the inside of the storage is a brightness suitable for photographing. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 85, and the photographing control unit 37 causes the camera 23 to photograph the inside of the storage. Then, after the photographing by the camera 23 is completed, the image data is transmitted to the image processing unit 40 of the refrigerator control board 24 (step S86), and the process returns to step S81.

  If it is determined in step S84 that the detected brightness is darker than the set brightness (step S84: Yes), whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the time when the brightness detection unit 35 detected the brightness in step S87 to decide. When the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S87: No), the brightness detection by the brightness detection unit 35 is repeated. If the predetermined time has elapsed (step S87: Yes), the brightness of the vegetable room is insufficient even if the predetermined time has elapsed from the timing at which the vegetable room light 51 should be turned on. Send a signal to report the information of the shortage. Further, the photographing restriction unit 36 transmits a signal to stop photographing to the photographing control unit 37 to stop photographing by the camera 50 (step S89).

The cause of the lack of brightness is that the vegetable room light 51 breaks down and does not light up, or when the illuminance decreases due to the life and the sufficient brightness for photographing can not be obtained, the vegetable room light 51 breaks down and the cycle of lighting up and extinguishing It is possible to think of cases such as misalignment.
The fixed time in step S87 is a time set to stop the imaging when the vegetable room illumination 51 is lit at a cycle largely different from the cycle set in the vegetable room illumination control unit 52.

According to the refrigerator 200 according to the fourth embodiment as described above, when the brightness in the vegetable room detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness, the vegetable room is stopped to stop the photographing by the camera 50. In the dark state, it is possible to suppress that a dark and low-visibility image is taken.
Furthermore, when a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the brightness detection unit 35 detects the brightness, the vegetables are taken at a cycle largely different from the cycle set in the vegetable room lighting control unit 52 in order to stop shooting by the camera 50. The imaging can be stopped also when the room illumination 51 is on.

  In addition, when the brightness information received from the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness information, the photographing restriction unit 36 provides a signal for displaying the information on the insufficient brightness in the display device provided in the refrigerator 200, or If the information is sent to an external device such as a portable terminal, it is possible to show the user that the brightness in the storage is insufficient on the display device or the portable terminal that has received the information on the insufficient brightness. Thereby, when the vegetable compartment lighting 51 breaks down, the user can take measures for the breakdown.

In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the photographing control board 25 and the refrigerator control board 24 are provided, and the respective functions are realized by the respective boards as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 6, FIG. However, it is sufficient that each function is realized by any one of the substrates provided in the refrigerator, and a control substrate is collectively mounted in one, and further divided into a plurality of control substrates and mounted in a plurality. The control boards may be connected to each other.
Further, the flow of control related to the photographing control unit 24 in the refrigerator control board 24 and the photographing control board 25 is not limited to the above embodiment, but the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit 35 is darker than the set brightness. In this case, any control may be implemented as long as control for limiting the photographing by the photographing unit can be realized.
Further, although the set time in the set time shooting has been described as a cycle of repeating the fixed time and the fixed time, the time may be set.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator is configured to include the refrigerator compartment 3, the switching compartment 4, the ice making compartment 5, the freezer compartment 6, and the vegetable compartment 7 as a storage unit, but includes any one storage compartment. The configuration is sufficient. Further, the arrangement of the storage compartments is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1. For example, the freezer compartment 6 and the vegetable compartment 7 may be reversed in FIG.

  The refrigerator according to the present invention can be widely used as a refrigerator for home use, business use and the like.

Reference Signs List 2 case, 3 cold storage room, 4 switching room, 5 ice making room, 6 freezing room, 7 vegetable room, 8 compressor, 9 heat exchanger, 10 air blower, 11 storage rack, 12 cold room door, 14 operation unit, 15 Top of cold storage room, 16 vegetable room storage unit, 20 open / close sensor, 21 internal light, 22 brightness sensor, 23 camera, 24 refrigerator control board, 25 photographing control board, 31 open / close detection unit, 32 light source control unit, 33 timer, 34 brightness sensor control unit, 35 brightness detection unit, 36 photographing limitation unit, 37 photographing control unit, 40 image processing unit, 41 recording unit, 42 communication unit, 50 camera, 51 vegetable room lighting, 52 vegetable room lighting control unit , 100, 200 refrigerator

Claims (6)

A housing having a door and a storage section;
A light source for emitting light to the inside of the storage unit;
An imaging unit for imaging the inside of the storage unit;
An imaging control unit that controls imaging by the imaging unit;
A brightness detection unit that detects the brightness inside the storage unit to which light is emitted by the light source when the door is closed;
A refrigerator comprising: a photographing restriction unit for restricting photographing by the photographing unit when the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit is darker than the set brightness. The photographing control unit controls the photographing unit to perform a predetermined time photographing for photographing at a set time and a normal photographing for photographing the inside of the storage unit after the door is opened and then closed.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein when the photographing restriction unit restricts photographing, the normal photographing is performed and photographing for the set time is stopped.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the brightness detected by the brightness detection unit is illuminance.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the brightness detection unit detects brightness from the image information captured by the shooting unit.   5. The photographing restriction unit transmits a signal for displaying that the brightness from the light source is insufficient when the photographing restriction unit restricts photographing. The refrigerator of item 1.   5. The imaging restriction unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the imaging restriction unit transmits a signal for displaying information indicating that the light source is broken to an external device when the imaging restriction unit restricts imaging. The refrigerator described in the section.

Images