KR20060104353A - Food managing refrigerator using rfid - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a food management refrigerator using RFID, and more particularly, to a food management refrigerator using RFID, which efficiently manages food stored in a storehouse by using container information obtained using RFID as food management information of stored food. It is about.

The food management refrigerator using the RFID of the present invention is a RFID reading means for reading the container information from the RFID dedicated container, a storage means for storing food management information, and to manage the food stored in the container together with the RFID dedicated container, And control means for obtaining the container information from the RFID reading means and storing the container information as the food management information in the storage means.

Refrigerator, RFID, Storage Information

Description

FOOD MANAGING REFRIGERATOR USING RFID}

1 is a block diagram of a refrigerator according to the prior art.

2 is a block diagram of a food control refrigerator using RFID according to the present invention.

3 is a front view and a partially enlarged view of a food control refrigerator using RFID according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the RFID dedicated container and stored food.

5 is one embodiment of food control information.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

21: RFID reading means 22: input means

23: clockwork means 24: storage means

25: display means 30: micom

The present invention relates to a food management refrigerator using RFID, and more particularly, to a food management refrigerator using RFID, which efficiently manages food stored in a storehouse by using container information obtained using RFID as food management information of stored food. It is about.

In order to maintain the freshness of stored foods according to the refrigerator products, a separate freshness maintaining room is prepared to be selectively used by users. Various kinds of foods are stored in these refrigerators. Since the user cannot remember the foods stored in the refrigerator, the user has to go through the effort of opening and closing the refrigerator door every time. Confirmation of the food stored in the refrigerator in this way causes the consumption of electrical energy due to the opening and closing of the refrigerator door, and also caused waste of food because the food is decayed because the storage period is exceeded.

In order to solve this problem, the present applicant discloses a refrigerator which can check the stored food inside from the outside in Korean Patent Registration No. 0377741 (name of the invention: storage food display control device of the refrigerator). This is illustrated in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional refrigerator includes an oscillation circuit 10 for oscillating a predetermined frequency and a frequency division circuit 11 for generating time by dividing an oscillation frequency output through the oscillation circuit 10 into a specific frequency signal. ), A time counting means 12 for inputting an output signal of the frequency divider circuit, and counting time, and a date counting means for changing a date when a predetermined time is reached based on the time counted by the time counting means 12 ( 13), a storage means 14 for storing various kinds of information about stored foods in the store, a selection key 15 for receiving various kinds of information about stored foods such as the type, quantity, storage period, etc. of the stored foods by the user; , The stored food date / time display unit 16 for displaying and updating the time and date at a predetermined time interval by the central processing unit 19, the expired food display unit 17 for displaying the expired food, and the storage means. Information of stored food stored in (14) Based on the stored food sequential display unit 18, which updates and displays at regular intervals, and the stored food information stored in the storage means 14, the stored food time / date, the expired food information, and the current stored food are sequentially It consists of a central processing unit 19 to be displayed

From this configuration, in the conventional refrigerator, after storing information of the stored food directly input by the user through the selection key unit 15 in the storage means 14, the stored food time / date, the expired food information and the current storage Information about the food is displayed.

In order to obtain the stored food information in the conventional refrigerator, it is inconvenient for a user to manually input names of a plurality of foods. In addition, since the selection key unit 15 must have an input capability similar to that of the keyboard for this input, the configuration of the selection key unit 15 is complicated and there is a problem of increasing the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator. In addition, the time required for the user to perform the input is considerable for such keyboard input.

In order to solve this problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a food management refrigerator using RFID that allows the user to conveniently manage the stored food by storing the container information without having to directly enter the name of the stored food. .

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a food management refrigerator using RFID that provides information on the storage period of the stored food to the user by managing the storage start date and / or storage period information of the food together.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a food control refrigerator using RFID to inform the user of the storage period information of the food in advance to facilitate the food management of the user.

The food management refrigerator using the RFID of the present invention is a RFID reading means for reading the container information from the RFID dedicated container, a storage means for storing food management information, and to manage the food stored in the container together with the RFID dedicated container, And control means for obtaining the container information from the RFID reading means and storing the container information as the food management information in the storage means.

In this case, the refrigerator further includes one clock number means for calculating the date and time of acquiring the container information, and the control means includes the date and time of acquisition from the clock number means in the food management information as the storage start date of the stored food. It is preferable to store together in the storage means.

The refrigerator further includes an input means for receiving a storage period of the stored food from a user, and the control means stores the storage period from the input means in the food management information.

In addition, the control means is preferably received by the user through the input means for the storage period notification service for the stored food, including in the food management information to store.

In addition, the refrigerator preferably further comprises a display means for displaying the food management information to the user.

In addition, it is preferable that the control means reads the food management information, calculates the storage days of the stored food, and displays it on the display means.

In addition, the control means preferably reads the food control information including the storage period notification service to display a predetermined warning message on the display means from a predetermined period before the end of the storage period.

In addition, the control means preferably stores the container information in the storage means in accordance with the storage start command from the user from the input means.

In addition, the control means preferably deletes the container information from the storage means in accordance with the storage release command from the user from the input means.

In addition, the RFID reading means is preferably installed in the front of the refrigerator.

In addition, the RFID-only container is preferably a hollow shape for storing a predetermined stored food.

In the following, the invention is explained in detail on the basis of the embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments and drawings, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the contents described in the claims below.

2 is a block diagram of a food control refrigerator using RFID according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a front view and a partially enlarged view of the food control refrigerator using RFID according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the food management refrigerator 100 includes RFID reading means 21 for acquiring container information from an RFID-only container (not shown) in which stored foods to be stored in a refrigerator compartment are stored, and predetermined by a user. An input means 22 for receiving a command of the user, an hourly clock means 23 for calculating a date and / or time, a frame to be displayed for a food management service (user interface, etc.) and food management information, and the like. The storage means 24, the frames to be displayed for the food management service (user interface, etc.), the display means 25 for displaying the food management information, and the like, and the above-mentioned components to control the food to be stored in the It consists of a microcomputer 30 to obtain and store the container information of the RFID dedicated container of the display, and to display to the user. The refrigerator 100 may additionally include a main microcomputer (not shown) that performs a refrigeration control operation, and the like, and a communication line is connected between the main microcomputer and the microcomputer 30 to perform data communication. Alternatively, the refrigerator 100 may perform a refrigeration refrigeration control operation through the microcomputer 30. In addition, the refrigerator 100 includes a power supply unit (not shown) to supply power required for each component.

In detail, the RFID reading means 21 uses a predetermined frequency generating means, a transmitting means and a receiving means (not shown) to obtain container information of the RFID dedicated container of the food to be stored in the store by the user outside the refrigerator. Include. The RFID reading means 21 has a performance enough to read the RFID reader when the user approaches the RFID dedicated container within a predetermined distance. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the RFID reading means 21 allows the user to be mounted at a height that the user can comfortably lift (for example, the height of a human chest) in order to read the RFID dedicated container. The RFID dedicated container contains an RFID chip in the container, and the container information stored in the RFID chip includes unique information for identifying the RFID dedicated container, and is composed of a series of numbers, for example. , '1', '2', etc. Here, in order to facilitate identification of the RFID dedicated container by the user, an identification symbol (for example, letters, numbers, colors, etc.) corresponding to or identical to this container information is formed on the outer surface of the RFID dedicated container.

The input means 22 is a means for receiving a command (for example, reading an RFID-only container, inputting a storage period, adding or deleting food management information, etc.) from a user, and displayed through the display means 25. In connection with the frame or the like, an appropriate number of buttons or the like is formed. However, since there is no need to input the name of the stored food at all, the number may be configured to about six, as shown in FIG.

Next, the one-time counting means 23 is a means for calculating the date and time when the container information of the RFID dedicated container is obtained by the RFID reading means 21, and when there is a request from the microcomputer 30, Provide the micom 30 with the year, month, and time when the request was received.

Next, the storage means 24 stores at least frames displayed to the user and food management information formed by the microcomputer 30 to provide food management services provided by the food management refrigerator. These frames represent interface screens for the user to facilitate their use for food control. In addition, the food control information includes at least container information, and additionally includes a storage start date or storage days or storage periods. Here, the storage days means the number of days that the RFID-only container is stored in the warehouse together with the actual stored food, and the storage period is the period during which the stored food must be stored in the warehouse, and the storage period is stored by the user. The expiration date described in the food is entered or set arbitrarily.

Next, the display means 25 is to display the above-mentioned frame (user interface) and the food management information, is formed on the front of the refrigerator 100 as shown in Figure 3, RFID reading means 21 Is formed at a similar height. As shown in FIG. 3, it is formed in the input means 22 in the vicinity of the display means 25 to take the user's convenience into account.

Finally, the microcomputer 30 controls the entire refrigeration / refrigeration process, and additionally provides a food management service to be described later. The microcomputer 30 includes at least one central processing unit (not shown), and may be a device including the storage means 24 described above, or a device including only a processor such as the central processing unit. . However, in this specification, in order to describe the data stored in the storage means 24 in more detail, the microcomputer 30 and the storage means 24 will be described as separate elements.

First, the microcomputer 30 displays the frame for the food management service stored in the storage means 24 through the display means 25 in order to configure the food management information to manage the stored food. When the user selects the food management service, the microcomputer 30 receives the command through the input means 22, and first causes the RFID reading means 21 to acquire container information from the RFID dedicated container. At this time, the user may store the stored food or the stored RFID dedicated container within a predetermined distance from the RFID reading means 21 to obtain container information stored in the RFID chip of the RFID dedicated container. In addition, the microcomputer 30 stores the obtained container information as food management information in the storage means 24 as food management information. At this time, the microcomputer 30 may receive the user's command to store the read container information of the RFID dedicated container, and then perform the storage to the storage means 24.

At this time, the microcomputer 30 requests the time clock means 23 when the RFID reading means 21 obtains the container information or when the container information is stored in the storage means 24. The time (i.e., date and / or time) provided from (23) is stored in the storage means 24 together with the container information as food management information. This time provided means the date of storage of the stored food.

In addition, if there is a storage period (or expiration date) of the stored food, in particular, if the user wants to manage the storage period with the food management information, the microcomputer 30 displays the frame for entering the expiration date (25) Display through. Such an indication may be automatically displayed after storing the container information and / or storage start date and time, or may be displayed by the user's selection. At this time, the storage period may be a date and time set by the manufacturer displayed on the outside of the stored food stored in the RFID-only container, or may be a date and time set arbitrarily by the user.

Accordingly, the microcomputer 30 displays a frame allowing input of the storage period through the display means 25, receives an input from the user through the input means 22, and stores the frame together with the food management information. In the means 24.

Through the above-described process, the refrigerator 100 obtains food management information of food to be stored in the store, and stores and manages it in the storage means 24. Subsequently, when the user wants to check the item of food (RFID-only container) currently stored in the refrigerator 100, the user inputs a service selection for checking the current stored food through the input means 22. The microcomputer 30 reads the food management information stored in the storage means 24 and displays it on the display means 25.

At this time, the microcomputer 30 reads the food management information, obtains the current date and time (year, date and / or time) from the one-hour number means 23, calculates the storage days of the stored food, and displays it on the display means 25. Can be. This storage date is calculated from (current date-storage start date).

In addition, the microcomputer 30 may display the food storage information on the basis of the storage start date or the food storage information on the basis of the remaining time of the storage period in order to facilitate the confirmation of the stored food by the user. . In particular, the microcomputer 30 may display the stored food of the food storage information that does not include the expiration date on the basis of the storage start date and time.

In addition, the microcomputer 30 provides a notification service for the storage period of the stored food by the user or automatically by using the stored storage period and the calculated storage days. The notification service calculates the current remaining storage period of the microcomputer 30, and if it is within a predetermined period of time, a warning message (textual display, display by icon, warning sound by a speaker (not shown), etc.) to inform this. The display means 25 can be displayed to inform the user. For example, when the remaining storage period is three days, the microcomputer 30 may start to display a warning message. In addition, the displayed warning message may be displayed as another warning message as the remaining storage period is shortened, and may draw more attention to the user. The warning message here is stored in the storage means 24. In addition, the microcomputer 30 may display a warning message for the stored food whose storage period is over, via the display means 25. At this time, the storage food that can be provided with such a warning message service is limited to at least the food is entered storage period.

As described above, when the user is provided with the service for the stored food through the container information of the RFID dedicated container stored in the refrigerator 100, and after the user releases the storage in the stored food, food management information It is necessary to delete the information of the stored food from the product. Accordingly, the microcomputer 30 displays the food management information on the stored food currently stored through the display means 25, receives the stored food to be deleted by the user's selection through the input means 22, and stores the food. Information related to the food (container information, storage start date, storage days, storage period, and whether a warning message service is selected, etc.) is deleted from the storage means 23. Alternatively, the microcomputer 30 reads the container information of the RFID dedicated container containing the stored food to be released by the user by the RFID reading means 21, and the user inputs the storage release command through the input means 22. Allow input. When the microcomputer 30 receives the storage release command, the food management information including the container information corresponding to the container information of the RFID dedicated container may be deleted. After this deletion, the microcomputer 30 again displays on the display means 25 food management information for the RFID-only container in which the remaining stored food is stored.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the RFID dedicated container and stored food.

As shown, the RFID dedicated container 40 has a hollow 40a for storing the stored food such as the milk carton 50, and the RFID tag 41 is attached to the exterior. The RFID tag 41 is detachable and can be used for other storage containers.

In particular, the RFID-only container 40 is formed so that the upper surface is open so that the stored food can be received from the upper side, and consists of at least two or more plate-shaped fixing parts 40b to surround the circumference of the stored food.

At this time, the fixing portion 40b is formed of the same material as the general plastic.

Of course, the RFID tag 41 in the RFID dedicated container 40 is attached to any one of the fixing portions 40b, the RFID tag 41 is attached so as to be exposed to the exterior, the user is easily attached to the dedicated container 40 Can be brought closer to the RFID reading means 21.

In addition, the RFID dedicated container 40 corresponds to the container information so that the user can identify the dedicated container 40, the identification means (for example, numbers, colors, letters, etc.) in any one of the fixing portion (40b) 42 is formed.

Here, the stored food is mainly the quality or taste of the food during the storage period, such as dairy products, but the stored food according to the user's choice may be applied to such food management services.

5 is one embodiment of food control information.

As shown, the food management information displayed on the display means 25 includes container information (for example, an identification number) of the RFID-only container containing the stored food, a storage start date, a storage day, and a storage period. In this case, the indication of the stored foods to which the warning message service is provided may additionally be made. In addition, as shown in the figure, the microcomputer 30 may also display the exceeded date and time, in the case of the stored food over the storage period.

The present invention of such a configuration has an effect that the user can manage the stored food without having to directly enter the name of the stored food.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of providing information on the storage period of the stored food to the user by managing the storage start date and / or storage period information of the food together.

In addition, the present invention has an effect of facilitating food management of the user by informing the user in advance of the storage period information of the food.

Claims (11)

RFID reading means for reading container information from the RFID dedicated container; Storage means for storing food management information; And control means for acquiring the container information from the RFID reading means and storing the container information as the food management information in the storage means to manage the stored foods which are introduced into the container together with the RFID dedicated container. Food management refrigerator using RFID. The method of claim 1, The refrigerator further includes one clock number means for calculating a date and time for acquiring the container information, and the control means includes the date and time obtained from the clock number means as the storage start date of the stored food in the food management information and stores the data. Food control refrigerator using RFID, characterized in that stored together in the means. The method of claim 2, The refrigerator further includes an input unit for receiving a storage period of the stored food from a user, and the control unit stores the storage period from the input unit in the food management information and stores the food. Care refrigerator. The method of claim 3, The control means receives a storage period notification service for the stored food by the user through the input means, the food management refrigerator using RFID, characterized in that for storing in the food management information. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The refrigerator further comprises a display means for displaying the food management information to a user. The method of claim 5, The control means reads the food management information to calculate the number of storage days of the stored food to display on the display means the food control refrigerator using RFID. The method of claim 5, And the control means reads the food management information including the storage period notification service and displays a predetermined warning message on the display means from a predetermined period before the end of the storage period. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, And the control means stores the container information in the storage means according to a storage start instruction from the user from the input means. The method of claim 8, And the control means deletes the container information from the storage means according to a storage release command from the user from the input means. The method of claim 1, The RFID reading means is a food management refrigerator using RFID, characterized in that installed on the front of the refrigerator. The method of claim 1, The RFID dedicated container is a food management refrigerator using RFID, characterized in that the hollow shape for storing a predetermined stored food.

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