GB2507929A

GB2507929A - Wireless communications and weight sensing device for a refrigerator

Info

Publication number: GB2507929A
Application number: GB1404116.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sahil Mohmed
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-08
Filing date: 2014-03-08
Publication date: 2014-05-14
Also published as: GB201404116D0

Abstract

A wireless communications device with a weight sensing means built into the external door of the refrigerator and which provides the capability to connect to a wireless local area network (WLAN). The weight sensors are placed inside the refrigerator below specific consumable products in order to obtain the weights of these consumable products. The weight reading from the weight sensor represents the remaining quantity of the consumable product and this can be characterized as a small shopping list. The shopping list is then automatically transmitted to the user through the medium of email, with and established WLAN Internet connection. The device may transmit directly or via a computer in the household. A control panel or interface is placed on the door and further sensors for temperature, humidity, the door latch may be provided.

Description

Wireless communication and weight sensing device for refrigerator.

Background

The present invention relates to a household refrigerator with the feature of wireless communication and weight sensing. More particularly relates to an electronic communications device designed to allow wireless communication with a household refrigerator in order to send weight sensor data to a user allocated email address using a wireless local area network (WLAN] for internet connection.

A refrigerator can be defined as an apparatus for keeping consumable products fresh for an extended period of time, this includes milk, eggs, butter, bread and any other consumable product. The refrigerator is essentially a chamber with a cooling cycle, most refrigerators also have a freezing chamber in order to freeze consumable products to further extend the period of preservation. The cooling of both chambers is generated using a compressor unit The refrigerator is the most essential and commonly used kitchen appliance as it is a requirement in order to preserve the consumable state of a food product. it is also a necessity for a health reason as the cool temperatures inside the refrigerator slows down the growth of food bacteria. The consumable products held inside the refrigerator are typically products that are frequently consumed on a daily basis, as a result, refrigerated food products tend to dissipate at a quicker rate, therefore is it important to keep track of the quantities of each consumable product inside ones refrigerator.

However many people tend not to keep track of the consumable products in their refrigerator as there are currently no conventional methods of doing this, therefore one is obliged to manually write a shopping list or mentally remember the required items. A solution to the problem of maintaining track of the quantities of the consumable products inside ones refrigerator would avoid the need to make numerous journeys to purchase the required items and also prevents surplus items from being purchased. However once the quantities of the consumable products have been tracked, this information would need to be available for the user to conveniently view at anytime and any location. An example solution would be, weight sensors built into the refrigerator trays, used to determine the quantities of each consumable product held inside the refrigerator, similar to a set of kitchen weight scales. The data from the weight sensors representing the quantities is wirelessly transmitted to the user through the internet with the medium of email, this data characterizes a small shopping list. The user is then able to view this data from any portable or non-portable device with Internet connection, from anywhere around the world.

The proposed invention is centered on the household refrigerator sector, however there are currently some industrial solutions for the large-scale industrialized refrigerators. The industrial solutions for maintaining track of the consumable products held inside the industrialized refrigerators involve barcode scanning or manually entering the weights of the consumable products into a computer system. Other industrial methods use weight sensor devices but do not connect to the Internet, however they transmit the weight sensor data to computers within the closed network using particular bespoke software.

These large-scale industrial methods have not been applied into household refrigerators due to the costly implementation, inconvenient software usability and device compatibility issues.

Statement of invention

To overcome this, the present invention proposes an electronic communications device that is able to connect to a wireless local area network (WLAN], the communications device comprises of several weight sensors and these weight sensors are placed in specific locations inside the refrigerator in order to capture the weights of individual consumable products, the data from the weight sensors is used to determine the quantity of the individual consumable product. The weight sensor data is gathered and sent as an email to a user allocated email address through an established WLAN Internet connection, the email is characterized as a small shopping list. The device has a built in display unit and buttons, the device is fitted into the door of the refrigerator) where the display unit and buttons are externally visible to the user in order to operate it.

The two core functions of the proposed invention are to firstly provide a simple method of wireless communication with the household refrigerator. And secondly to provide a means of keeping track of the quantities of each consumable product held inside the refrigerator.

The WLAN connectivity of the proposed invention is essentially for sending and receiving emaiL therefore the WLAN must have an Internet connection. The method used to connect to the WLAN is through WiFi, the proposed invention has a built in WiFi module which is able to search and connect to any typical WiFi router providing the correct connection details have been entered. An External antenna is placed on top of the refrigerator in order to increase signal range.

The weight sensors are each placed on the refrigerator trays below the specific consumable products, effectively functioning like a kitchen weight scale, the weights of these consumable products are then tracked on a regular interval, and the weight data is then transferred from the weight sensor to the microprocessor of the device through a wired connection, this is done for all the weight sensors placed within the refrigerator. Once the data has been gathered from all of the weight sensors, it is then processed into a user readable format.

The proposed invention uses the most suitable and user-friendly method of communicating, which is through email, as email is a widely used and cross platform method of communication. The weight sensor information showing the quantities of each consumable product inside the refrigerator, is sent as a typical email format therefore the user can view the information in real time from any portable or non-portable device that has an Internet browser, these email alerts are sent on a daily basis at a user defined time interval, the user can also send an email to the refrigerator at anytime in order request an email alert containing the weight sensor information, the weight sensor information is considered to represent a small shopping list indicating which consumable products from the refrigerator need to be purchased. The method of email is used as a tool for the two-way communication between the user and the household refrigerator.

As this device is able to connect to the internet, it allows the user to access the data from anywhere around the world, other comparable inventions only allow their data to be accessed from inside a closed network.

In order to operate the proposed invention, it is equipped with a display unit and buttons, it is designed with a minimal amount of buttons in order to save space and provide convenient usability. It is installed with an extremely user friendly graphical user interface (GUI) this allows the user to view a range of menus and information, the data from the weight sensors is also available to view on the display unit The second purpose of the display unit and buttons is for the fundamental configurations of the device, this involves setting up the WLAN connection, and also setting the email address allocation, this can all be done on the proposed invention without the need of an external computer.

The proposed invention can also be equipped with additional features and hardware, preferably a distance sensor in order to save electrical energy by switching off the display unit when potential users are not standing near the refrigerator. Another preferable feature is a temperature and humidity sensor linked to the device in order to display temperature and humidity levels of the inside of the refrigerator on the display unit. The refrigerators door latch sensor may also be connected to the device allowing the device to email the user if the refrigerator door has been left open for a long period of time.

The proposed invention has many advantages, the core advantage is that it eliminates the need to manually keep track of the consumable products held inside a household refrigerator.

More advantages include: Provides the ability to accurately measure the weight of one or more consumable products held inside the household refrigerator.

Provides the ability to wirelessly connect the household refrigerator to the internet, in order to send and receive information via email.

Provides the means of sending an email from the household refrigerator to one or more email addresses.

Cross compatibility, as the information from the refrigerator is sent as a regular email, it can be accessed from any device that has an Internet browser with Internet connection.

Provides the ability to set daily alerts, in order to keep the user up to date with the quantities of each consumable product held inside the household refrigerator.

Operates a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUi) on the display unit allowing users from a nontechnical background to operate the communications device effortlessly.

Constructed with a minimal amount of buttons in order to provide a convenient and practical experience when operating the communications device and also to save space on the refrigerator door.

Does not need to be connected to an external computer system in order to perform the configurations, all the settings are done on the proposed communications device's graphical user interface (GUI).

Ability to configure and connect to a wireless local area network (WLAN) without the need of a separate computer system or software application to perform the settings.

Ability to configure setting in order to send and receive email without the need of a separate computer system or software application to perform the settings.

The email alerts containing the weight sensor data (quantities of the consumable products), is translated logically red/amber/green signals in order to signal the user whether the specific consumable product needs to be purchased or not.

Preferably? the proposed invention will have an external distance sensor, which is designed to save energy by putting the device to sleep when the user is not near the device.

Preferably, the proposed invention will have a temperature and humidity sensor, the data from this sensor can also be sent inside the daily alerts or requested by the user.

Preferably, the proposed invention will be connected to the refrigerators door sensor, which can alert the user via email if the refrigerator door has been left open.

Detailed description

Other functions and information of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

With reference to figures ito 4 for a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, with reference to figure 5 for a schematic block diagram of the present invention, with reference to figure 6 to 7 for a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a communications device l2is installed into the door of the refrigerator 11 (as shown in figure 4), weight sensors 7 are placed inside the refrigerator 11 [as shown in figure 4). The complete invention (as shown in figure 3) comprises of the communications device 12, weight sensors 7, distance sensor 8, temperature and humidity sensor 9, and WiFi antenna 10. The core element of the invention, which is referred to as the communications device 12 (as shown in figure 1, figure 2, figure 3, figure 6 and figure 7) comprises of a microprocessor unit 1, input / output unit 2, display connection unit 3, Wifi Module 4, several buttons 5, and display unit 6. The communications device 12 is coupled into the refrigerator door, wherein the buttons 5 and display unit 6 are externally exposed. Weight sensors 7 are placed inside the refrigerator 11 under the consumable products, the weight sensors 7 are wired to the communications device 12. The distance sensor B is placed on the door of the refrigerator 11 wherein the sensor is externally exposed, the distance sensor 8 is wired to the communications device 12. The Temperature and humidity sensorY is placed inside the refrigerator 11 and wired to the communications device 12. The WiFi antenna iO is placed on top of the refrigerator 11 and wired to the communications device 12. The present invention is illustrated by the first preferred embodiment as shown if figures 1 and 2, the second preferred embodiment is an identical communications device 12 however it has an altered layout of buttons Sa as shown in figures 6 and 7.

The processor unit 1, which is an internal component of the communications device 12 is the central control unit for controlling all of the components on the communications device 12 and for the execution of commands and data, it is made of a single chip.

The input / output unit 2, which is an internal component of the communications device 12 is a control unit for the input and output components connected to the communications device 12, the input / output unit 2 sends the component data to the processor unit 1, it is made of a single chip.

Preferably, the display connection unit 3, which is an internal component of the communications device 12, is a connector for the display unit 6, in order to allow the display unit 6 to be attached separately.

The WiFi module 4, which is an internal component of the communications device 12, is a means of establishing a connection to a WiF'i based wireless network which includes wireless local area networks (WLAN) and WiFi hotspots, all commands on the WiFi module 4 are controlled by the microprocessor 1, therefore the WLAN connection configurations can be completed on the communications device 12, without the need of an external computer system.

The WLAN configurations for the WiFi module 4 connection is entered using the buttons 5, and for visual benefit the display unit 6, to establish the connection the user is required to input the SSID and the password using buttons 5 and if the correct details have been entered the WiFi module 4 uses this information to send and receive a Ping from the router or hotspot which indicates a successful connection, the WiN module 4 is only essentially used for sending and receiving email.

The buttons 5, which are internal components of the communications device 12, these are a means of physically interacting with the communications device 12, the buttons 5 is a user input interaction, there are several buttons 5, only one has been labeled on each drawing these buttons 5 are used to navigate through menus shown on the display unit 6, the buttons 5 are also used to input configurations and settings such as WiFi connection details and email address allocations details. The second preferred embodiment of the present invention (as shown in figures 6 and 7] has an alternative layout of buttons, the alternative layout is labeled as buttons Sa.

The proposed invention has the capability of entering alphabetical and numerical characters which is essential for inputting the various WiFi and email address configurations, the means of alphabetical and numerical input is achieved from a custom alphabet and number scroll which allows the user to scroll through the alphabet and numbers, using buttons 5, the user is able to scroll through each letter in the alphabet or through the numbers 0-9, and when the required alphabetical letter or number has been found, the user can then select it and move on to the next alphabetical letter or number, this allows the user to input crucial settings for example the WiN SSID and password. All of this is done on the communications device 12, the display unit 6 visually displays the alphabet and numbers as the user scrolls through. The second preferred embodiment as shown in figures 6 and 7, is an identical communications device 12 however it has an alternative layout of buttons Sa, this embodiment uses 10 alphanumeric buttons 5a, each button is labeled with 3-4 letters of the alphabet in which the user can press each button Sa several times to select a letter from the alphabet this is considered the second preferred method for the input of alphabetical or numerical characters.

The display unit 6, which is a component of the communications device 12 is a means of visual interaction with the communications device 12, the display unit 6 shows a graphical user interface with a series of menus, the display unit 6 is a device output interaction, which outputs commands depending on the buttons S input the user can navigate through the menus using the buttons 5, the display unit 6 also shows the Wifi connection status and weight sensor data, the display unit 6 can also be used to determine the quantities of each consumable product inside the refrigerator 11 without having to open the refrigerator 11 and checking the quantities physically.

Email allocation settings can be completed on the communications device 12, the email feature is achieved through custom internal code uploaded to the microcontroller 1. In order to configure the email address allocation, the user is required to enter their email address and password on the communications device 12, other server details will also have to be entered, such as the SMTP server and the POP3 server, all of this information is entered on the communications device 12, using buttons 5, and for visual benefit the display unit 6. In order to communicate with the email server, these details are then combined with the WLAN Internet connection, and a confirmation email is sent to the allocated email address. The microprocessor 1 has a template email already composed in which the weight sensor 7 values are inserted and sent to the allocated email address. In order to send the email alert containing the quantities of each consumable product inside the refrigerator 11, there are several stages, the communications device 12 reads the values from the weight sensors 7, the microcontroller 1 uses the weight values to calculate which consumable products may need to be purchased, the microcontroller 1 then inserts weights of the consumable products into a template composed email, this email is then transmitted through the Wifi module 4 and over the internet, to the email server, in which the user can now view this email from any device with an internet browser.

The weight sensors 7, are externally connected to the communications device 12 through the means of wire, figure 3 only demonstrates three weight sensors 7 however many more weight sensors 7 can be connected to the communications device 12, the weight sensors 7 are made up of load cells with the combination of amplifiers in order to gather accurate weight values. Figure 4 demonstrates how the weight sensors 7 are placed on the trays of the refrigerator 11, only three weight sensors have been labeled but there are many more in the refrigerator diagram.

The proposed invention can determine if a consumable product inside the refrigerator 11 needs replacing or purchasing, using the following approach, the user inputs the average weight of the specific consumable product that is on top of that specific weight sensor 7, this is a one time operation, the communications device 12 then uses that average weight number and the value of the reading from the weight sensor 7 to work out if that specific consumable product needs replacing or purchasing, wherein if the reading from the weight sensor is below 25% of the average weight of that consumable product then this consumable product is in the amber' zone which means it needs to be purchased soon, if the weight reading of that specific consumable product goes below 10% then it is in the red' zone which means it needs to be purchased. Preferably, the green', amber' and red' zone meter will be a visual indicator in the email sent to the user. Once that specific consumable product has been purchased and replaced, the communications device 12 will automatically recognize that it has been replaced due to the increase in the weight) therefore the user does not have to notify the communications device 12 that the specific consumable product has been replaced.

The distance sensor 8, is externally connected to the communications device 12 through the means of wire, the distance sensor B isa preferable component and it is essentially integrated to the communications device 12 for power saving purposes, the distance sensor B repeatedly checks if there is movement around the external area of the refrigerator 11, is there is no movement, this indicates that there are no possible users near the refrigerator 11 and therefore the display unit 6 is put to sleep in order to save electricity, when a possible user stands in front of the refrigerator 11, the distance sensor Swill automatically switch the display unit back on, the distance sensor B is placed on the refrigerator door and the two sensors are externally exposed.

The temperature and humidity sensor 9, is externally connected to the communications device 12 through the means of wire, the temperature and humidity sensor 9 is a preferable component and is essentially integrated to the communications device 12 for the refrigerators 11 internal temperature and humidity information, the temperature and humidity sensor 9 is placed inside the refrigerator 11.

The WiFi antenna 10, is externally connected to the communications device 12 through the means of wire, it is essentially for the means of a stronger WiN signal range, the WiN antenna lOis placed on top of the refrigerator 11.

The proposed invention is powered from the refrigerators 11 power source 13, the power from the refrigerator 11 may have to be regulated to 9v in order to power the communications device 12.

Preferably, the refrigerator door latch sensor can be incorporated to the communications device 12, in order to alert the user if the refrigerator door has been left open for a long period of time, the door latch sensor alert would be sent via email.

Preferably, the communications device 12 may also have a USB connection, to give the user a second option, in which the user can choose to complete the configurations from an external computer instead of completing the configurations from the communications device 12, these configurations include all of the settings such as WiFi connection and email allocation settings. This involves the communications device 12 to be connected via USB to an external computer system, custom software will need to be installed to the computer system in order for the computer system to link with the communications device 12 and the microcontroller 1, once the USB connection has been established, the user is then able to perform all of the configurations externally through the computer system rather than doing it on the communications device 12 itself

Introduction to drawings

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: * Figure 1 shows the communications device without the display unit attached) this is the main circuit board with the internal components.

* Figure 2 shows the communications device with the display unit connected on the front surface of the circuit board.

* Figure 3 shows the communications device with all of the internal and external components. The display unit has been lifted in order to show the internal components. The external components are wired to the communications device.

* Figure 4 shows a household refrigerator with the communications device built into the external door of the refrigerator, weight sensors are also placed on the trays and shelves of the refrigerator.

* Figure 5 shows a schematic block diagram of the first and second preferred embodiment of the proposed device invention.

* Figure 6 shows the second preferred embodiment of the proposed invention, an identical communications device [as figure 1] but with an alternative layout for the buttons.

* Figure 7 shows the second preferred embodiment of the proposed invention with the display unit connected, an identical communications device (as figure 2) but with an alternative layout for the buttons.

Claims

Claims 1. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11, comprising wireless communication means for wirelessly transmitting weight sensor 7 data from a refrigerator 11 to one or more co-operating devices, consisting of weight sensing means for sensing the weights of consumable products held inside the refrigerator 11, transmitting the gathered weight sensor 7 data through the medium of email to an allocated email address by the means of wireless local area network (WLAN) for connectivity to the Internet, consisting of a display unit 6 and buttons 5 for user operation.
2. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which the wireless communications device 12 is incorporated into the external door of the refrigerator 11 during the manufacturing process of the refrigerator 11, wherein the display unit 6 and buttons 5 are externally exposed, and the weight sensors 7 are placed inside the refrigerator 11 below the consumable products.
3. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which the electronic power to the communications device 12, is acquired from the refrigerators 11 internal power supply unit.
4. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim L in which the communications device 12 connects to the Internet by the means of local area network, is provided by the implementation of the WiFi module 4 component built into the communications device 12, this WiFi module 4 allows the communications device 12 to establish a connection to a wireless local area network (WLAN] providing the correct SSID and WPA password has been entered, the WiFi Internet connection is only essentially needed in order to send and receive emails, a WiFi antenna 10 is placed on top of the refrigerator 11 in order to increase the signal range.
S. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which the weight sensing means is provided by a by a combination of a load cell sensor and an instrumental amplifier, the load cell sensor is disposed below the consumable product for capturing the weight of the individual consumable product, this is replicated in numerous sections of the refrigerator 11 in order to capture the weights of one or more consumable products, the weight values are characterized as a small shopping list.
6. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which the weight sensor 7 data is transmitted through the medium of email, is provided with the use of the SMTP and POP3 servers in order to send and receive email, the user is required to enter their email address and password along with the hosts SMTP and POP3 settings in order to establish successful email transmission.
7. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which the communications device 12 comprises a display unit 6, wherein the display unit 6 is a display screen providing a graphical user interface, in order to navigate through menus and output relevant sensor information.
8. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which the communications device 12 comprises of buttons 5 providing user input, in order to input relevant information for configurations and settings.
9. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which the first preferred embodiment (figure 1 and figure 2) and second preferred embodiment (figure 6 and figure 7) are identical in hardware, however the button layout is altered in the second preferred embodiment to buttons 5a.
10. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which the user operates the communications device 12 using the display unit 6 and buttons 5, the user is able to navigate through menus on the display unit 6 using the buttons 5, the user is also able to input characters and words, using the following methods, if first preferred embodiment is used then the user can scroll through the alphabet and numbers in order to select each letter of the word, if second preferred embodiment (figure 6 and figure 7) is used then the user is able to use the labeled alphanumeric keypad of buttons Sa in order to input characters.
11. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which preferably a USB connection can be incorporated, allowing the to have the choice to complete the configurations and settings from an external computer, rather than from on board the communications device 12.
12.A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which preferably a distance sensor 8 is fitted, in order to save electrical energy by switching off the communications device 12 display unit 6 if there are no potential users standing nearby the refrigerator 11, the distance sensorS would be built into the external door of the refrigerator 11, the distance sensor S component will be exposed externally.
13. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which preferably a temperature and humidity sensor 9 is fitted inside the refrigerator 11, in order to gather temperature and humidity information and allow this information to be displayed on the communications device 12 display unit 6.
14. A wireless communications device 12 for a refrigerator 11 according to claim 1, in which preferably the refrigerators door latch sensor is incorporated to the communications device 12, in order to alert the user via email if the refrigerator door has been left open for a long period of time.