US20060272341A1 - Living information supply apparatus of refrigerator - Google Patents

Living information supply apparatus of refrigerator Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060272341A1
US20060272341A1 US11/439,421 US43942106A US2006272341A1 US 20060272341 A1 US20060272341 A1 US 20060272341A1 US 43942106 A US43942106 A US 43942106A US 2006272341 A1 US2006272341 A1 US 2006272341A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
information
food
living
living information
refrigerator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/439,421
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jong-Min Shin
Eun-Jeong Kim
Eun-Young Park
Yong-Chol Kwon
Yong-Tae Kim
Ku-Young Son
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LG Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by LG Electronics Inc filed Critical LG Electronics Inc
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC. reassignment LG ELECTRONICS INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KWON, YONG-CHOL, SHIN, JONG-MIN, KIM, YONG-TAE, KIM, EUN-JEONG, SON, KU-YOUNG, PARK, EUN-YOUNG
Publication of US20060272341A1 publication Critical patent/US20060272341A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
    • F25D2400/36—Visual displays
    • F25D2400/361—Interactive visual displays
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
    • F25D2700/08—Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a living information supply apparatus of a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a living information supply apparatus of a refrigerator which can supply living information relating to food taken out by a user to the user.
  • a conventional refrigerator includes a display unit for supplying information on the refrigerator and controlling the refrigerator, such as an LCD panel.
  • a user interface is displayed through the display unit.
  • the user interface displays a temperature inside a refrigerating chamber, a temperature inside a freezing chamber and a service type of a dispenser (water, flake ice, etc.) in the form of numbers, characters or icons.
  • the display unit includes an input unit (for example, buttons) for controlling the temperature inside the refrigerator and the service of the dispenser.
  • FIG. 1 is a structure diagram illustrating the display unit of the conventional refrigerator.
  • the display unit displays the service type of the dispenser (cubic ice, water, flake ice), a set temperature of the freezing chamber and a set temperature of the refrigerating chamber, and includes an input means at its lower portion.
  • the conventional refrigerator does not supply living information relating to foods to the user.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a living information supply apparatus of a refrigerator which can supply living information corresponding to food to a user.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a living information supply apparatus of a refrigerator which checks food taken out by a user through RFID and offers convenience to the user.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a living information supply apparatus of a refrigerator which can rapidly supply living information to a user by performing data communication with an external server.
  • a living information supply apparatus of a refrigerator including: a reading means for reading food information from RFID on food stored in the refrigerator and/or a packing sheet and/or a container; a storing means for storing various food information and living information corresponding to the food information; a display means for displaying living information; and a microcomputer for reading the living information corresponding to the food information of the reading means from the storing means, and displaying the living information on the display means.
  • the reading means is installed in the refrigerator.
  • the microcomputer receives the food information from the reading means, and displays the living information on the display means after reception of the food information.
  • the reading means reads the RFID at predetermined intervals.
  • the reading means is installed on the front surface of the refrigerator, for reading the RFID taken out from the refrigerator.
  • the living information supply apparatus of the refrigerator further includes a communication means for performing data communication with an external information server through an external network.
  • the microcomputer transmits the food information to the external information server through the communication means, receives living information corresponding to the food information from the external information server, and displays the living information on the display means.
  • the living information includes information on the food itself and/or information relating to other foods.
  • FIG. 1 is a structure diagram illustrating a display unit of a conventional refrigerator
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a living information supply apparatus of a refrigerator in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 are structure diagrams illustrating installation examples of an RFID reading means of FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a living information supply apparatus of a refrigerator in accordance with the present invention.
  • the refrigerator 100 includes the living information supply apparatus comprised of a display means 10 for displaying living information relating to food, an input means 20 for receiving a command from a user, a communication means 30 for performing data communication through an internet 200 , a storing means 40 for storing food information and living information corresponding to the food information, a reading means 50 for reading the food information from external RFID, and a microcomputer 60 for reading the food information, and searching and displaying the living information corresponding to the food information by controlling the aforementioned elements.
  • the refrigerator 100 can further include a main microcomputer (not shown) for performing freezing and refrigerating control.
  • the main microcomputer and the microcomputer 60 are connected through a communication line for data communication. Otherwise, the refrigerator 100 performs freezing and refrigerating control by the microcomputer 60 .
  • the refrigerator 100 includes a power supply means (not shown) for supplying power to each element.
  • the display means 10 is a color TFT LCD for displaying the user interface, the food information and the living information corresponding to the food information.
  • the user interface can further display information on the state of the refrigerator (refer to FIG. 3 ).
  • the input means 20 receives commands from the user (for example, reading of RFID, selection of living information supply service, etc.).
  • the input means 10 is related to the user interface displayed on the display means 10 , and formed in a button or touch pad type.
  • the communication means 30 means a communication interface such as a wire/wireless modem for performing data communication between the microcomputer 60 of the refrigerator 100 and the internet 200 .
  • the communication means 30 can be installed inside or outside the refrigerator 100 .
  • the storing means 40 stores the user interface displayed on the display means 10 , the food information, and the living information corresponding to the food information.
  • the user interface includes at least frames for reading the RFID or selecting the living information supply service.
  • the food information includes at least a name (or kind) of food and can further include a production (or harvest) date, a producer, an original place and a price.
  • the living information includes information on the food itself of the food information and/or information relating to other foods.
  • the information on the food itself includes nutrient elements of the grape, a method for removing grape stains, an aromatherapy bathing method using grape peels, etc.
  • the information relating to other foods includes foods matching with the grape. For example, if pork matches with the grape, the information relating to other foods can include a recommended dinner menu containing pork.
  • the reading means 50 reads the food information stored in the RFID on the food and/or a packing sheet and/or a container. As identical to general reading of the RFID, the reading means 50 always maintains a reading ready state according to the control command from the microcomputer 60 , reads the RFID at predetermined intervals, or receives the control command (corresponding to the reading command from the input means 20 ) from the microcomputer 60 and reads the RFID for a predetermined time. Supply of the living information by the reading operation of the reading means 50 according to the installation position thereof will later be explained in detail.
  • the microcomputer 60 displays the user interface through the display means 10 , obtains input for selection of the living information supply service from the input means 20 , and supplies the living information. Accordingly, the reading means 50 reads the food information stored in the RFID by the reading process, and transmits the food information to the microcomputer 60 . The microcomputer 60 searches the living information corresponding to the food information from the storing means 40 , and displays the living information through the display means 10 .
  • the microcomputer 60 In case the microcomputer 60 fails to search the living information from the storing means 40 or intends to update the previously-stored living information in the storing means 40 , the microcomputer 60 transmits the food information to an external information server 300 through the internet 200 .
  • the microcomputer 60 receives the living information or the updated living information from the external information server 300 through the communication means 30 , stores the living information in the storing means 40 , and displays the living information through the display means 10 .
  • the internet 200 must be recognized as a collected conception including all constitutional elements for broadband and/or local area network communication such as a network using a TCP/IP protocol (for example, internet service provider servers, etc.).
  • a TCP/IP protocol for example, internet service provider servers, etc.
  • the external information server 300 includes a database (not shown) for storing the living information corresponding to the food information.
  • the living information is continuously updated by a manager.
  • the external information server 300 receives the food information through the internet 200 , searches the living information corresponding to the food information from the database, and transmits the searched living information to the refrigerator 100 through the internet 200 .
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 are structure diagrams illustrating installation examples of the RFID reading means of FIG. 2 .
  • the reading means 50 can be installed near the display means 10 (on the front surface of the refrigerator 100 ).
  • the reading means 50 reads the food information from the RFID and transmits the food information to the microcomputer 60 .
  • the microcomputer 60 searches the living information corresponding to the food information, and displays the living information on the display means 10 .
  • the microcomputer 60 can directly display the living information corresponding to the food information read by the reading means 50 . Without the input process, the microcomputer 60 checks input/output of the food and decides the display time of the living information. That is, the microcomputer 60 always sets the reading means 50 in the reading ready state.
  • the microcomputer 60 When the user puts the food into the refrigerator 100 or takes out the food from the refrigerator 100 , the user makes the RFID read. In the first input of the food, the reading number of the food information becomes ‘1’, and in the first output of the food, the reading number of the same food information becomes ‘2’. Therefore, when the reading number of the food information is an even number, the microcomputer 60 recognizes output of the food from inside of the refrigerator 100 and displays the living information on the display means 10 .
  • the reading means 50 can be installed on one side surface 100 a in the refrigerator 100 .
  • the microcomputer 60 controls the reading means 50 to read the RFID put into the refrigerator 100 at predetermined intervals.
  • the microcomputer 60 compares the food information read in the first reading with the food information read in the second reading, decides output of the food having the non-read information (the food whose food information has been read by the reading means 50 and received by the microcomputer 60 ), searches the living information of the food corresponding to the food information, and displays the living information on the display means 10 .
  • one or plural reading means 50 can be installed on the side surfaces and/or the top surface and/or the bottom surface of the refrigerator 100 .
  • the living information supply apparatus of the refrigerator supplies the living information corresponding to the food, so that the user can obtain the processing information of the food and the information relating to other foods.
  • the living information supply apparatus of the refrigerator checks the food taken out by the user through the RFID and supplies the living information to the user.
  • the living information supply apparatus of the refrigerator rapidly supplies new living information to the user by data communication with the external server.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
US11/439,421 2005-05-27 2006-05-24 Living information supply apparatus of refrigerator Abandoned US20060272341A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1020050045186A KR100605214B1 (ko) 2005-05-27 2005-05-27 냉장고의 생활정보 제공장치
KR10-2005-0045186 2005-05-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060272341A1 true US20060272341A1 (en) 2006-12-07

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US11/439,421 Abandoned US20060272341A1 (en) 2005-05-27 2006-05-24 Living information supply apparatus of refrigerator

Country Status (3)

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US (1) US20060272341A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1726898A1 (fr)
KR (1) KR100605214B1 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080066475A1 (en) * 2006-09-20 2008-03-20 Kwan-Shik Cho Food keeping refrigerator
US20080159494A1 (en) * 2006-12-28 2008-07-03 Whirlpool Corporation Service and maintenance guide for appliance
US20110220527A1 (en) * 2008-09-23 2011-09-15 Airbus Operations Gmbh Sealable apparatus with data- and energy transmission through electromagnetic induction
CN107302589A (zh) * 2017-07-27 2017-10-27 天津理工大学 智能冰箱收纳系统
US10371438B2 (en) * 2016-04-29 2019-08-06 Whirlpool Corporation Refrigerator having interior lighting used for synchronized user feedback of zone selection
US10955182B2 (en) 2017-11-07 2021-03-23 FreshRealm, LLC Dynamic packing system
US11936489B2 (en) 2021-02-02 2024-03-19 True Manufacturing Co., Inc. Systems, methods, and appliances that enable regional control of refrigeration appliances

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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CN108240731A (zh) * 2017-12-29 2018-07-03 深圳市道中创新科技有限公司 一种冰箱托盘、冰箱及冰箱托盘的天线旋转方法

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US20040100380A1 (en) * 2002-11-21 2004-05-27 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. RFID system and method for tracking food freshness
US7196625B1 (en) * 2003-10-27 2007-03-27 Nguyen Thu H Advanced food and/or drink organization and/or handling system

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US20030164754A1 (en) * 2000-08-18 2003-09-04 Rutger Roseen Method and apparatus for keeping a check on the storage time for goods in a storage
US20040100380A1 (en) * 2002-11-21 2004-05-27 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. RFID system and method for tracking food freshness
US7196625B1 (en) * 2003-10-27 2007-03-27 Nguyen Thu H Advanced food and/or drink organization and/or handling system

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080066475A1 (en) * 2006-09-20 2008-03-20 Kwan-Shik Cho Food keeping refrigerator
US7866171B2 (en) * 2006-09-20 2011-01-11 Lg Electronics Inc. Food keeping refrigerator
US20080159494A1 (en) * 2006-12-28 2008-07-03 Whirlpool Corporation Service and maintenance guide for appliance
US9057554B2 (en) * 2006-12-28 2015-06-16 Whirlpool Corporation Service and maintenance guide for appliance
US20110220527A1 (en) * 2008-09-23 2011-09-15 Airbus Operations Gmbh Sealable apparatus with data- and energy transmission through electromagnetic induction
US10371438B2 (en) * 2016-04-29 2019-08-06 Whirlpool Corporation Refrigerator having interior lighting used for synchronized user feedback of zone selection
US11802729B2 (en) 2016-04-29 2023-10-31 Whirlpool Corporation Refrigerator having interior lighting used for synchronized user feedback of zone selection
CN107302589A (zh) * 2017-07-27 2017-10-27 天津理工大学 智能冰箱收纳系统
US10955182B2 (en) 2017-11-07 2021-03-23 FreshRealm, LLC Dynamic packing system
US11936489B2 (en) 2021-02-02 2024-03-19 True Manufacturing Co., Inc. Systems, methods, and appliances that enable regional control of refrigeration appliances

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1726898A1 (fr) 2006-11-29
KR100605214B1 (ko) 2006-07-28

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AS Assignment

Owner name: LG ELECTRONICS INC., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SHIN, JONG-MIN;KIM, EUN-JEONG;PARK, EUN-YOUNG;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:018179/0472;SIGNING DATES FROM 20060724 TO 20060728

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION