JP2016223735A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of simplifying a configuration by inhibiting wiring between a photographing device for photographing the inside of a storage chamber and a control part for controlling the photographing device from being long and complicated, and easily executing power supply from a refrigerator body to the photographing device and information communication between the refrigerator body and the photographing device.SOLUTION: The refrigerator includes an opening/closing door for opening/closing an opening formed on a front face of the storage chamber, a lighting device, cameras 25, and a camera control part 7. The opening/closing door includes a first door for opening/closing a part close to one horizontal side of the opening, and a second door for opening/closing a part close to the other horizontal side of the opening. Then, the cameras 25 and the camera control part 7 are configured to be provided on the same one door between the first door and the second door.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

  A conventional refrigerator includes a communication means that can be connected to the Internet and a camera (photographing device) that photographs food in the storage room, and transmits image data captured by the camera to a server connected to the Internet by the communication means. A refrigerator in which image data can be visually recognized from a display terminal connected to the server, in which a camera and an illumination are respectively installed in the front of the cabinet, is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Further, an imaging device (imaging device) for photographing the inside of the storage room in the refrigerator main body, a wireless device that wirelessly transmits the captured image, and a power supply unit that drives the imaging device and the wireless device are provided. Conventionally, a refrigerator in the same unit independent of the above is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2014-209053 A JP 2014-209047 A

  However, in the conventional refrigerator shown in Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to the positional relationship between a camera as a photographing device and a control unit or communication means for controlling the photographing device. The wiring distance between the control unit and the communication means is long and complicated, which may increase the manufacturing cost and deteriorate the assemblability.

  Moreover, in the conventional refrigerator shown in Patent Document 2, since the photographing device is independent of the refrigerator main body, power for driving the photographing device cannot be supplied from the refrigerator main body, and the power source for driving the photographing device It is necessary to provide a supply unit separately. Moreover, the apparatus for performing wireless communication between an imaging device and a refrigerator main body is required. For this reason, a structure may become complicated and it may cause an increase in manufacturing cost. Further, since power for driving the photographing device cannot be supplied from the refrigerator body, there is a problem that power shortage easily occurs in the photographing device, and since the photographing device and the refrigerator body are connected by wireless communication, the photographing device or wireless communication There is also a problem that it is difficult to detect an error such as a device failure in the refrigerator main body.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and suppresses that the wiring between the imaging device for imaging the storage room and the control unit for controlling the imaging device is long and complicated. It is possible to obtain a refrigerator that can be simplified and can easily supply power from the refrigerator main body to the photographing apparatus and exchange information between the refrigerator main body and the photographing apparatus.

  In the refrigerator according to the present invention, a refrigerator body in which a storage chamber is formed, an opening / closing door that opens and closes an opening formed on the front surface of the storage chamber, an illumination device that irradiates the storage chamber, and the storage chamber A control unit that controls the imaging device, wherein the opening / closing door includes a first door that opens and closes a left and right side portion of the opening, and a left and right side portion of the opening. A second door that opens and closes the camera, and the photographing device and the control unit are provided on the same one of the first door and the second door.

  In the refrigerator, a photographing device and a control unit that controls the photographing device are provided in the same one of the first door and the second door that opens and closes the storage chamber, thereby photographing the storage chamber. The wiring between the photographing device and the control unit that controls the photographing device can be prevented from becoming long and complicated, the configuration can be simplified, the power supply from the refrigerator main body to the photographing device, and the refrigerator main body and photographing There is an effect that information can be easily exchanged with the apparatus.

It is a front view of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is side sectional drawing of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the opening-and-closing door with which the refrigerator concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided from the storage room. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st example of the imaging | photography operation | movement of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd example of imaging | photography operation | movement of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is side sectional drawing of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the opening-and-closing door with which the refrigerator concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention is provided from the storage room. It is an upper section of the refrigerator concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a sectional side view of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is upper sectional drawing of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is side sectional drawing of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the camera unit with which the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention is provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are simplified or omitted as appropriate. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 to 6 relate to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the refrigerator, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first example of the photographing operation of the refrigerator, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a second example of the photographing operation of the refrigerator. .

  A refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a box-shaped main body in which a storage chamber is formed. Here, a plurality of storage rooms are provided. That is, the inside of the main body of the refrigerator 1 is partitioned into respective storage rooms. Here, a refrigerator room 100, a switching room 200, an ice making room 300, a freezer room 400, and a vegetable room 500 are provided as a plurality of storage rooms. In addition, the storage room provided in the refrigerator 1 is not restricted to these. For example, the switching chamber 200 and the ice making chamber 300 may not be provided.

  The refrigerator compartment 100 is disposed on the uppermost stage of the refrigerator 1. An opening / closing door 11 is provided on the front side of the refrigerator compartment 100 so as to be freely opened and closed. The open / close door 11 is a double door. An operation panel 6 is provided in front of the open / close door 11 of the refrigerator compartment 100.

  A switching room 200 and an ice making room 300 are arranged one level below the refrigerator room 100, that is, the second level from the top of the refrigerator 1. The switching chamber 200 and the ice making chamber 300 are arranged side by side on the second stage from the top of the refrigerator 1. A switching chamber door 12 is provided on the front surface of the switching chamber 200. An ice making room door 13 is provided on the front surface of the ice making room 300. The switching chamber 200 selects a desired temperature from a plurality of preset temperatures such as a freezing temperature zone (−18 ° C.) and a soft freezing temperature zone (−7 ° C.), and switches the indoor temperature. Can do.

  A vegetable room 500 is arranged one level below the switching room 200 and the ice making room 300, that is, the third level from the top of the refrigerator 1. A vegetable compartment door 15 is provided on the front side of the vegetable compartment 500. A freezer compartment 400 is arranged at the bottom of the vegetable compartment 500, that is, at the bottom of the refrigerator 1. A freezer compartment door 14 is provided on the front surface of the freezer compartment 400.

  Each storage room of the switching room 200, the ice making room 300, the freezer room 400, and the vegetable room 500 is configured in a drawer shape. That is, each of the switching room door 12, the ice making room door 13, the freezing room door 14, and the vegetable room door 15 is a drawer-type door. And these storage rooms can be pulled out to the near side with the front board part provided in each front surface from the state accommodated in the refrigerator 1 now.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the space inside the refrigerator compartment 100 is partitioned by a food shelf 21. In addition, a chilled chamber 101 is provided by dividing the lowermost stage inside the refrigerator compartment 100. The chilled chamber 101 is provided with a drawer-type food storage case 22. The chilled room 101 is a storage room that is provided inside the refrigerated room 100 but can maintain a lower temperature than the refrigerated room 100. In addition, about the layout in the refrigerator compartment 100, such as the presence and arrangement of these food shelves 21 and the food storage case 22, the presence or absence of the chilled chamber 101, and the storage temperature of the chilled chamber 101, it is not limited to this.

  The main body of the refrigerator 1 is surrounded by a heat insulating material 17, and each storage chamber formed inside the main body is insulated from the outside. The refrigerator 1 is provided with a refrigeration cycle circuit that cools the air supplied to each storage room. The refrigeration cycle circuit includes a compressor 9, a condenser (not shown), a throttling device (not shown), a cooler 19, and the like.

  The compressor 9 compresses the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle circuit. The condenser condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 9. The expansion device expands the refrigerant condensed by the condenser. And the cooler 19 produces | generates the cold which cools air with the refrigerant | coolant expanded by the expansion | swelling apparatus, and supplies to a storage chamber. The compressor 9 is arrange | positioned at the lower part of the back side of the refrigerator 1, for example.

  The refrigerator 1 is provided with an air passage for supplying cold air generated by cooling the air by the refrigeration cycle circuit to each storage chamber. This air passage is composed of a cooling air passage 10 and a return air passage (not shown).

  The cooling air passage 10 is formed, for example, on the back side of the refrigerator 1. The cooling air passage 10 is a ventilation passage for conveying the cold air generated by cooling the air by the cooler 19 to each storage chamber. A cooler 19 is disposed in the cooling air passage 10. A blower fan 20 is provided in the cooling air passage 10. The blower fan 20 is for conveying cold air generated by the cooler 19 to each storage chamber.

  A damper (not shown) is installed at a midway position between the blower fan 20 and each storage chamber in the cooling air passage 10. By opening and closing the damper, the amount of cool air flowing into each storage room can be adjusted. The return air passage is a ventilation passage through which air that has cooled each storage chamber is conveyed to the cooler 19. The temperature in each storage chamber is detected by a thermistor (not shown) installed in each storage chamber. And the opening degree of a damper, the output of the compressor 9, and the ventilation volume of the ventilation fan 20 are adjusted so that the temperature in each storage chamber may become preset temperature.

  A door sensor 30 is attached to a position facing the upper end portion of the refrigerator compartment 100 and the upper end portion of the open / close door 11. The door sensor 30 detects the opening / closing of the door 11. An illumination 31 is provided on the ceiling in the refrigerator compartment 100. The illumination 31 is an illumination device that irradiates the inside of the refrigerator compartment 100 that is a storage room. When the user of the refrigerator 1 opens the door 11 and the door sensor 30 detects the opening operation of the door 11, the illumination 31 is turned on.

  Next, the structure of the door 11 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows the closed door 11 viewed from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 100 (inside front view). The open / close door 11 opens and closes an opening formed on the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 100 which is one of the storage rooms. As described above, the open / close door 11 is a double door type. That is, the open / close door 11 includes a right door 11a and a left door 11b. The right door 11a and the left door 11b are connected to the left and right side walls of the refrigerator compartment 100 by hinges, respectively.

  The right door 11a opens and closes the right-side portion of the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 100 as viewed in FIG. The left door 11b opens and closes the left side portion of the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 100 as viewed in FIG. Then, by closing both the right door 11a and the left door 11b, the entire front opening of the refrigerator compartment 100 is closed by the open / close door 11. In other words, one of the right door 11a and the left door 11b opens and closes the left and right one-side portions of the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 100. The other of the right door 11 a and the left door 11 b opens and closes the left and right other portions of the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 100.

  Outer plates 16 are provided on the outer surfaces of the right door 11a and the left door 11b, respectively. Moreover, the inner board 18 is provided in the surface at the side of the refrigerator compartment 100 of the right door 11a and the left door 11b, respectively. And the pocket 23 is provided in each inner board 18 of the right door 11a and the left door 11b.

  A camera unit 29 is attached to the inner plate 18 of the left door 11b. The camera unit 29 includes a camera 25 and a camera cover 27. The camera 25 is housed in the camera cover 27. The lens of the camera 25 is installed from the opening / closing door 11 (the left door 11b) toward the back of the refrigerator compartment 100. That is, the field of view of the camera 25 is adjusted so as to spread from the near side of the refrigerator compartment 100 toward the far side. The camera 25 is a photographing device that photographs the inside of the refrigerator compartment 100 that is a storage room.

  Here, the camera unit 29 includes two cameras 25 having different vertical positions in order to expand the range in the refrigerator compartment 100 that can be photographed. However, the number of cameras 25 is not limited to two. For example, the number of cameras 25 may be one, or three or more.

  The left door 11b is provided with a camera control unit 7. The camera control unit 7 is housed between the outer plate 16 and the inner plate 18 of the left door 11 b in a state surrounded by the heat insulating material 17. The camera control unit 7 is a control unit that controls the camera 25 that is a photographing apparatus. Specifically, for example, the camera control unit 7 performs a shooting instruction to the camera 25, temporary storage of an image shot by the camera 25, and the like. In this way, the camera 25 that is the photographing apparatus and the camera control unit 7 that is the control unit are the same door of the first door and the second door, that is, the right door 11a and the left door 11b ( Here, it is provided on the left door 11b).

  The camera 25 that is a photographing device and the camera control unit 7 that is a control unit are electrically connected by a wiring unit (not shown). The camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 exchange necessary data via the wiring unit. For example, a shooting instruction signal from the camera control unit 7 is transmitted to the camera 25 via the wiring unit. Further, the image data photographed by the camera 25 is transmitted to the camera control unit 7 via the wiring unit. Similar to the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7, this wiring unit is also provided on the left door 11b. That is, the wiring part is the same door as the one provided with the camera 25 and the camera control part 7 (here, the first door and the second door (the right door 11a and the left door 11b)). , Provided on the left door 11b).

  The operation panel 6 described above is provided on the outer plate 16 of the door 11. The operation panel 6 is an operation unit for the user of the refrigerator 1 to operate. The operation panel 6 is provided with operation switches for adjusting the temperature and setting of each storage room. The operation panel 6 is also provided with a display device such as a liquid crystal display for displaying various information such as the current operation status of the refrigerator 1 including the temperature of each storage room. The operation panel 6 is also provided on the left door 11b, like the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7. That is, the operation panel 6 that is an operation unit is the same as the one provided with the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 among the first door and the second door (the right door 11a and the left door 11b). Door (here, left door 11b).

  As described above, the camera 25 is attached to the opening / closing door 11 and is directed in the depth direction of the refrigerator compartment 100, so that the photographed image is viewed from the same front as the user sees the inside of the refrigerator compartment 100 during normal use. Can be obtained.

  Further, by providing the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 on the same one of the right door 11a and the left door 11b (here, the left door 11b), the camera 25 and the camera control unit inevitably. 7 is restricted, and the cable length of the wiring portion can be kept short. Thereby, the material cost can be kept low, the wiring work is facilitated, and the assemblability is improved. In addition, since the operation of the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 can be confirmed at the stage when the assembly of the opening / closing door 11 is completed, it is possible to detect an error relating to the photographing function early. Therefore, compared with the case where an error is discovered after the assembly of the refrigerator 1 is completed, the occurrence of unnecessary processes such as discarding, disassembling, and reassembling other parts can be suppressed, and productivity can be increased. In addition, since the system that grasps the storage situation in the storage room with the internal camera can be completed with the same door, the system can be restored by repairing or replacing limited parts when the system malfunctions. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 having high serviceability can be provided.

  Further, as described above, the operation panel 6 has functions such as setting the temperature in each storage chamber and displaying the current temperature. For this reason, the operation panel 6 is communicably connected to the main microcomputer 50 of the refrigerator 1 and the thermistor of each storage room by wiring. Therefore, by installing the operation panel 6 on the same left door 11b as the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7, wiring from the operation panel 6 to the main microcomputer 50 and wiring from the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 to the main microcomputer 50 are performed. It is possible to consolidate into one configuration, and the assemblability can be further improved.

  Next, the configuration of the control system related to the photographing in the refrigerator compartment 100 by the camera 25 in the refrigerator 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the camera 25 is controlled by the camera control unit 7. As shown in FIG. 4, the camera control unit 7 includes a controller 33, an image storage unit 34, an image processing unit 35, and a data communication unit 36.

  The detection result by the door sensor 30 is input to the main microcomputer 50. The controller 33 can acquire the detection result by the door sensor 30 via the main microcomputer 50. Then, the controller 33 controls the photographing operation by the camera 25 based on the detection result by the door sensor 30. Specifically, for example, when the door sensor 30 detects the closing operation of the open / close door 11, the controller 33 transmits a photographing instruction to the camera 25. That is, when the door sensor 30 detects the closing operation of the opening door, the controller 33 of the camera control unit 7 causes the camera 25 that is a photographing device to photograph an image in the refrigerator compartment 100 that is a storage room.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerator 1 may include a temperature / humidity sensor 32. The temperature / humidity sensor 32 measures the temperature and humidity outside the refrigerator 1. The measurement result by the temperature / humidity sensor 32 is input to the main microcomputer 50. The controller 33 can acquire the measurement result by the temperature / humidity sensor 32 via the main microcomputer 50. Then, the controller 33 controls the photographing operation by the camera 25 based on the detection result by the door sensor 30 and the measurement result by the temperature / humidity sensor 32.

  Specifically, for example, when the door sensor 30 detects the closing operation of the door 11, the controller 33 sets the photographing standby time after the closing operation based on the temperature and humidity outside the refrigerator 1 measured by the temperature / humidity sensor 32. Set. The shooting standby time is set as follows, for example. That is, the controller 33 first calculates the dew point temperature of the outside air based on the temperature and humidity outside the refrigerator 1 measured by the temperature / humidity sensor 32. Next, the controller 33 compares the calculated dew point temperature of the outside air with the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 100.

  When the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 100 is lower than the dew point temperature of the outside air, the camera 25 cooled in the refrigerator compartment 100 touches the outside air when the door 11 is opened, so that the outside air is cooled by the camera 25 and is in the outside air. There is a possibility that the moisture of the camera will be condensed on the surface of the camera 25 and the camera 25 may be clouded. In this case, the controller 33 determines the amount of moisture that may condense, that is, the camera 25 based on the temperature, humidity, dew point temperature of the outside air, the difference between the dew point temperature of the outside air and the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 100, and the like. Estimate the amount of cloudiness that can occur.

  Next, based on the estimated amount of fogging that may occur in the camera 25, the controller 33 estimates the time required until the fogging disappears when the camera 25 is fogged. The controller 33 sets the time required until the cloudiness generated in the camera 25 estimated in this way is eliminated as the imaging standby time.

  Then, the controller 33 confirms the elapsed time after the door sensor 30 detects the closing operation of the door 11, and when the imaging standby time has elapsed after the door sensor 30 detects the closing operation of the door 11. The imaging instruction is transmitted to the camera 25. In other words, after the opening / closing door 11 is closed, the camera 25 shoots after waiting for the shooting standby time.

  On the other hand, when the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 100 is higher than the dew point temperature of the outside air, the controller 33 sets the photographing standby time to “0” because the possibility of fogging of the camera 25 is low. That is, in this case, when the door sensor 30 detects the closing operation of the door 11, the controller 33 immediately transmits a shooting instruction to the camera 25 and causes the camera 25 to take an image in the refrigerator compartment 100.

  As described above, when the temperature / humidity sensor 32 is provided, the camera control unit 7 performs the operation after the closing operation based on the measurement result of the temperature / humidity sensor 32 when the door sensor 30 detects the closing operation of the door 11. May be set so that the camera 25 serving as a photographing device captures an image in the refrigerator compartment 100 serving as a storage room after the set photographing standby time has elapsed. Note that the value of the imaging standby time may be a fixed value determined in advance.

  Since the camera 25 shoots when the opening / closing door 11 is closed, the camera cooled in the refrigerator compartment 100 is exposed to the outside of the cabinet, and is exposed to high temperature and high humidity outside the refrigerator compartment 100, so that the dew point temperature or less is reached. As a result, the camera 25 may become cloudy and the captured image may become unclear. Therefore, as described above, the dew point temperature is estimated from the temperature / humidity measurement result of the outside air and compared with the internal temperature to determine whether the camera 25 is cloudy or not. By estimating the time until the cloudy clears from the measurement result and waiting until the cloudy clears, it is possible to capture a clear image inside the warehouse.

  As described above, the camera 25 captures an image in the refrigerator compartment 100 in accordance with a capturing instruction from the controller 33. An image captured by the camera 25 is transmitted to the camera control unit 7. When the controller 33 receives the captured image transmitted from the camera 25, the controller 33 determines that the capturing by the camera 25 is completed. When it is determined that the shooting by the camera 25 has been completed, the controller 33 turns off the illumination 31. In other words, the camera control unit 7 turns off the illumination 31 that is the illumination device after completion of imaging by the camera 25 that is the imaging device.

  The main microcomputer 50 directly controls the illumination 31 that is the illumination device. Therefore, more accurately, when it is determined that the photographing by the camera 25 is completed, the controller 33 outputs a photographing completion signal or a turn-off instruction signal to the main microcomputer 50. Then, the main microcomputer 50 that has received the photographing completion signal or the turn-off instruction signal turns off the illumination 31. However, in this case, the controller 33 substantially turns off the illumination 31, in other words, the controller 33 turns off the illumination 31 via the main microcomputer 50. Therefore, in the following description, such indirect control via the main microcomputer 50 is expressed as “the controller 33 turns off the illumination 31”. The controller 33 may directly turn off the illumination 31 without going through the main microcomputer 50.

  Here, as described above, when the door 11 is closed, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 100 is photographed by the camera 25. When the door 11 is closed, the door 11 must be opened before that. When the door 11 is opened, the illumination 31 is turned on as described above. Therefore, the illumination 31 is lit until the photographing by the camera 25 is completed after the opening / closing door 11 is opened.

  Thus, whenever the door sensor 30 detects the closing operation of the open / close door 11, the latest image in the refrigerator compartment 100 can always be acquired and stored by performing imaging in the refrigerator compartment 100. Further, by turning on the illumination 31 from the closing operation of the door 11 to the end of photographing by the camera 25, a clear image in the refrigerator compartment 100 can be taken, and the illumination lighting time is kept to the minimum necessary. Thus, an effect of reducing the amount of energy consumption can be obtained.

  An image storage unit 34 included in the camera control unit 7 temporarily stores a captured image transmitted from the camera 25. When a plurality of images are generated at the time of one shooting by the camera 25, the image processing unit 35 processes the plurality of images and combines them into one image. For example, as described in this embodiment, when there are a plurality of cameras 25, images captured by the cameras 25 are stored in the image storage unit 34.

  Each image is a state in the refrigerator compartment 100 within the field of view of each camera 25 at the same time. The image processing unit 35 combines these images stored in the image storage unit 34 into one image in consideration of the shooting range of each image. That is, the camera control unit 7 generates one image based on a plurality of images taken by the camera 25 that is a photographing device. By doing in this way, the state in the refrigerator compartment 100 in a certain period can be made into one image.

  And the controller 33 displays the image processed and produced | generated by the image process part 35 on the display apparatus of the operation panel 6, for example. At this time, from the viewpoint of reducing the storage capacity, the pre-processing image stored in the image storage unit 34 may be deleted after the processing by the image processing unit 35 is completed.

  The data communication unit 36 is a communication interface for the camera control unit 7 to communicate with the outside. Specifically, for example, when the data communication unit 36 includes an NFC (Near Field Communication) module or the like, the camera control unit 7 can communicate with the image display terminal 37 via the data communication unit 36. it can. The image display terminal 37 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The controller 33 can display the image on the image display terminal 37 by transmitting the image processed and generated by the image processing unit 35 via the data communication unit 36.

  Further, for example, by providing the data communication unit 36 with a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) module, the camera control unit 7 communicates with the server device 40 via the data communication unit 36, the router 38, and the Internet 39. can do. Therefore, the controller 33 stores the image in the storage device of the server device 40 by transmitting the image processed and generated by the image processing unit 35 via the data communication unit 36, the router 38, and the Internet 39. Can do. Then, the image stored in the server device 40 can be displayed on the image display terminal 37.

  With the configuration as described above, the user can check the storage status in the refrigerator compartment 100 without opening the door 11 or at a location away from the refrigerator 1. Moreover, since the image inside the cabinet is from the same viewpoint as when the user opened the door 11 and looked inside the refrigerator compartment 100 as described above, the user opened the door 11 as if it were open. It is possible to easily grasp the storage situation in the refrigerator compartment 100 as if directly confirming.

  The camera control unit 7 as described above can be implemented using, for example, a known computer. In this case, a program is prepared for causing a known computer to function as the above-described camera control unit 7, that is, the controller 33, the image storage unit 34, the image processing unit 35, the data communication unit 36, and the like. Then, by reading and executing a software program on a computer, which is hardware, information is calculated or processed by specific means in which the software and hardware resources cooperate, and each function shown in FIG. It is possible to construct an electronic circuit that becomes the camera control unit 7 including

  Next, an example of the operation flow when the door 11 is opened and closed in the refrigerator 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows an example of operation control of the camera 25 and the illumination 31 based on the detection result of the door sensor 30 described above. First, when the user opens the opening / closing door 11 of the refrigerator 1, the door sensor 30 detects that the opening / closing door 11 is opened in step S1.

  Then, in the following step S2, the controller 33 turns on the illumination 31 of the refrigerator compartment 100. Then, when the user closes the open / close door 11 of the refrigerator 1, the door sensor 30 detects that the open / close door 11 is closed in step S3. Then, it progresses to step S4 and the controller 33 makes the camera 25 image | photograph the state in the refrigerator compartment 100. FIG. An image captured by the camera 25 is transmitted to the camera control unit 7.

  When the captured image of the camera 25 is received by the camera control unit 7, the controller 33 detects that the capturing by the camera 25 is completed in step S5. Then, the process proceeds to step S6, where the controller 33 turns off the illumination 31. Thus, a series of operation flow is completed.

  FIG. 6 shows another example of the flow of operation when the door 11 is opened and closed in the refrigerator 1 configured as described above. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the operations of the camera 25 and the illumination 31 are controlled based on the measurement result of the temperature / humidity sensor 32 in addition to the detection result of the door sensor 30 described above. In FIG. 6, steps S1 to S3 have the same contents as steps S1 to S3 in FIG. 5 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted. When the door sensor 30 detects that the door 11 is closed in step S3, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, the temperature and humidity of the outside air are measured by the temperature / humidity sensor 32. In subsequent step S <b> 8, the controller 33 determines whether or not the camera 25 is fogged. As described above, this determination can be made by comparing the dew point temperature obtained from the temperature and humidity of the outside air measured in step S7 with the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 100. If it is determined in step S8 that the camera 25 is not fogged, the process proceeds directly from step S8 to step S4, and the controller 33 causes the camera 25 to photograph the state in the refrigerator compartment 100.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that the camera 25 is cloudy, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the controller 33 causes the camera 25 to wait for shooting until the above-described shooting standby time elapses. When the photographing standby time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S4, and the controller 33 causes the camera 25 to photograph the state in the refrigerator compartment 100. Step S5 and step S6 after step S4 have the same contents as step S5 and step S6 in FIG. When step S6 is completed, the series of operation flows is completed.

  The refrigerator configured as described above includes a camera 25 that is a photographing device and a camera control unit 7 that controls the camera 25, a first door and a second door that open and close the storage room (the right door 11a and the left door). 11b), the wiring connecting the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 can be minimized, and the wiring cost can be reduced and the assemblability can be improved. In addition, since the operation of the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 can be confirmed at the stage when the assembly of the opening / closing door 11 is completed, errors relating to the photographing function can be detected early, and productivity can be improved. In addition, as long as the refrigerator body and the camera 25 are connected by wire and the refrigerator is operating, the power supply to the camera 25 can be stably performed, and errors generated in the camera 25 can be detected promptly and sequentially. .

  That is, the wiring between the imaging device for imaging the storage room and the control unit for controlling the imaging device can be prevented from becoming long and complicated, the configuration can be simplified, and the power from the refrigerator body to the imaging device can be reduced. Information can be easily exchanged between the supply and the refrigerator main body and the photographing apparatus.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
7 to 9 relate to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator, FIG. 8 is a view of the open / close door provided in the refrigerator, as viewed from the storage room, and FIG. FIG.
In the second embodiment described here, the camera is arranged on the vertical partition member of the door in the configuration of the first embodiment described above.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, in the second embodiment, the left door 11 b is provided with a vertical partition member 24. The left door 11 b is a door provided with the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 among the two doors constituting the open / close door 11. That is, the vertical partition member 24 is the same door as the one provided with the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 among the first door and the second door (the right door 11a and the left door 11b) ( Here, it is provided on the left door 11b).

  The vertical partition member 24 is provided on the inner plate 18 of the left door 11b. That is, the vertical partition member 24 is provided inside the storage chamber (here, the refrigeration chamber 100) of the door 11. The vertical partition member 24 has an elongated shape in the vertical direction. A part of the vertical partition member 24 protrudes from the end of the left door 11b on the right door 11a side toward the right door 11a.

  Here, as described in the first embodiment, the open / close door 11 is a double-spread type. Therefore, by closing both the right door 11a and the left door 11b, the entire front opening of the refrigerator compartment 100 is closed by the open / close door 11. The vertical partition member 24 closes the right door 11a and the left door 11b (that is, the first door and the second door) with both the right door 11a and the left door 11b closed. To do. The vertical partition member 24 is also a partition that partitions the refrigerator compartment 100 side of the open / close door 11 into the right door 11a side and the left door 11b side in a state where both the right door 11a and the left door 11b are closed.

  In the second embodiment, the camera 25 that is a photographing device is provided on the vertical partition member 24. The camera 25 is installed in a state of being housed in the camera cover 27 as in the first embodiment. In particular, as shown in FIG. 9, the vertical partition member 24 is provided with a heater 26. The heater 26 warms the vertical partition member 24 to prevent the occurrence of dew condensation due to cold air leakage from between the right door 11a and the left door 11b.

The heater 26 can also heat the camera 25 (photographing device) provided on the vertical partition member 24. By causing the heater 26 built in the vertical partition member 24 to generate heat and heating the camera 25 via the camera cover 27, the camera 25 can be made higher than the dew point temperature of the outside air. Then, by making the camera 25 higher than the dew point temperature of the outside air, it is possible to prevent the camera 25 from being fogged when the door 11 is opened and closed.
Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the refrigerator configured as described above, by installing the camera 25 on the vertical partition member 24, it is possible to effectively utilize a dead space in which food cannot be stored. In addition, since the pocket 23 is not provided around the vertical partition member 24, the narrowing of the field of view by preventing the pocket 23 and the food stored in the pocket 23 from appearing in the photographed image of the camera 25 is prevented. You can take a picture inside the cabinet. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the stored food from moving by opening and closing the door and hitting the camera 25.

  Further, by installing the vertical partition member 24 on the left door 11b provided with the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 among the right door 11a and the left door 11b, the heater 26 incorporated in the vertical partition member 24 is provided. Wiring for supplying power from the refrigerator 1 and wiring from the main microcomputer 50 and the like of the refrigerator 1 to the camera 25 and the camera control unit 7 can be integrated into one configuration, which can further improve assemblability. it can.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
10 to 12 relate to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator, FIG. 11 is an upper sectional view of the refrigerator, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a control system of the refrigerator. is there.

  In the third embodiment described here, the photographing direction of the camera can be changed in the configuration of the first or second embodiment described above. In the following, the third embodiment will be described based on the configuration of the second embodiment, that is, the configuration in which the camera unit is attached to the vertical partition member.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 (particularly FIG. 11), in the third embodiment, the camera 25 is attached to the vertical partition member 24 so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction (horizontal direction), that is, swingable. ing. The camera unit 29 includes a motor 28. For example, the drive shaft of the motor 28 and the camera 25 are linked by a power transmission mechanism (not shown) such as a gear. When the drive shaft of the motor 28 is rotated, the orientation of the camera 25 is changed according to the rotation. It is changed in the left-right direction. In this way, the direction changing means for changing the direction of the camera 25 which is a photographing apparatus is mainly constituted by the motor 28 and the power transmission mechanism.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the configuration of a control system related to photographing in the refrigerator compartment 100 by the camera 25 in the refrigerator 1 configured as described above will be described. In FIG. 12, the door sensor 30, the illumination 31, and the temperature / humidity sensor 32 illustrated in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment are not illustrated.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the operations of the camera 25 and the motor 28 provided in the camera unit 29 are controlled by a controller 33 provided in the camera control unit 7. Also in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, when the open / close door 11 is closed, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 100 is photographed by the camera 25. At this time, the controller 33 performs shooting by the camera 25 while driving the motor 28 to change the orientation of the camera 25. Specifically, for example, the controller 33 performs control so that the change of the orientation of the camera 25 and the photographing by the camera 25 are alternately performed.

  By changing the orientation of the camera 25, a single camera 25 can shoot a plurality of images having different shooting ranges. In this way, a plurality of images with different shooting ranges shot by one camera 25 are combined into one image by the image processing unit 35.

Here, an example in which the orientation of the camera 25 is changed in the left-right direction has been described, but the direction in which the orientation of the camera 25 is changed is not limited to the left-right direction. In addition, for example, the orientation of the camera 25 may be changed in the vertical direction, and more specifically, the orientation of the camera 25 can be changed in an arbitrary direction that is a combination of up, down, left, and right within a preset range. A mechanism may be provided.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first or second embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the refrigerator configured as described above, the camera unit 29 is controlled by the camera control unit 7, and by controlling the camera 25 and the motor 28, the camera 25 can be refrigerated from any direction in which the camera 25 can rotate. Images in the room 100 can be taken. That is, the shooting range of the camera 25 can be expanded at low cost without increasing the number of cameras 25 and without using a wide-angle lens for the camera 25.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
13 and 14 relate to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator, and FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a camera unit provided in the refrigerator.

  In the fourth embodiment described here, the vertical position of the camera relative to the door can be changed in the configuration of the first to third embodiments described above. In the following, the fourth embodiment will be described based on the configuration of the second embodiment, that is, the configuration in which the camera unit is attached to the vertical partition member.

  As shown in FIG. 13, in the fourth embodiment, the camera unit 29 includes a rack 41 and a gear case 43 in addition to the camera 25 and the camera cover 27. FIG. 14 shows an enlarged view of the camera unit 29.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the upper end of the rack 41 is connected to the lower end of the camera cover 27 in which the camera 25 is accommodated. The lower end portion side of the rack 41 is accommodated in the gear case 43. A gear 42 and a motor 28 are also accommodated in the gear case 43. The gear 42 is provided so as to mesh with the rack 41. A gear 42 is attached to the drive shaft of the motor 28.

  When the drive shaft of the motor 28 is rotated by such a mechanism, the rotation operation of the gear 42 is converted into the vertical movement of the rack 41. Then, as the rack 41 moves up and down, the camera 25 also moves up and down with respect to the gear case 43. The camera unit 29 configured as described above is attached to the left door 11b by fixing the gear case 43 to the vertical partition member 24 (FIG. 13). The direction of the camera 25 is changed to the left-right direction. In this way, the motor 28, the rack 41, and the gear 42 constitute moving means for moving the position of the camera 25, which is a photographing apparatus, in the vertical direction.

  The configuration of the control system related to the photographing in the refrigerator compartment 100 by the camera 25 configured as described above is almost the same as that of FIG. 12 of the third embodiment described above. That is, when the open / close door 11 is closed, the camera control unit 7 performs photographing with the camera 25 while driving the motor 28 to change the position of the camera 25. Specifically, for example, changing the position of the camera 25 and photographing with the camera 25 are alternately performed.

  By changing the position of the camera 25 in this way, a plurality of images with different shooting ranges can be taken by one camera 25. In this way, a plurality of images captured by one camera 25 and having different shooting ranges are combined into one image by the camera control unit 7.

Although the case where the moving means for moving the camera 25 is configured using the rack 41 and the gear 42 has been described here, the configuration of the moving means is not limited to this example. In addition, for example, the moving means can be configured using rails, ropes, pulleys, and the like. In the case of this other example, the movement of the camera 25 is guided by a rail, and one end of the rope is connected to the camera 25, the other end is connected to the pulley, and the pulley is rotated by the motor 28 to move the camera 25. Can be made.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first to third embodiments, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the refrigerator configured as described above, the camera unit 29 is controlled by the camera control unit 7, and by controlling the camera 25 and the motor 28, the camera 25 is refrigerated from any position within the range in which the camera 25 can move. Images in the room 100 can be taken. That is, the shooting range of the camera 25 can be expanded at low cost without increasing the number of cameras 25 and without using a wide-angle lens for the camera 25.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator, 6 Operation panel, 7 Camera control part, 9 Compressor, 10 Cooling air path, 11 Opening / closing door, 11a Right door, 11b Left door, 12 Switching room door, 13 Ice making room door, 14 Freezer room door, 15 Vegetables Room door, 16 outer plate, 17 heat insulating material, 18 inner plate, 19 cooler, 20 blower fan, 21 food shelf, 22 food storage case, 23 pocket, 24 vertical partition member, 25 camera, 26 heater, 27 camera cover, 28 Motor, 29 Camera unit, 30 Door sensor, 31 Lighting, 32 Temperature / humidity sensor, 33 Controller, 34 Image storage unit, 35 Image processing unit, 36 Data communication unit, 37 Image display terminal, 38 Router, 39 Internet, 40 Server device , 41 racks, 42 gears, 43 gear case, 50 main microcomputer, 100 refrigerated room, 101 chilled room, 200 switching room, 300 ice making room, 400 freezer room, 500 vegetable room

Claims (10)

A refrigerator body in which a storage room is formed;
An opening and closing door for opening and closing an opening formed in the front surface of the storage room;
A lighting device for illuminating the storage chamber;
A photographing device for photographing the storage chamber;
A control unit for controlling the imaging device,
The open / close door includes a first door that opens and closes a left and right side portion of the opening, and a second door that opens and closes the left and right other side portion of the opening,
The said imaging device and the said control part are the refrigerators provided in the same one door among the said 1st door and the said 2nd door. A wiring unit that electrically connects the imaging device and the control unit;
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the wiring portion is provided on the one door. It has an operation part for the user of the refrigerator to operate,
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation unit is provided on the one door. The open / close door is a double door type,
The one door includes a vertical partition member that closes between the first door and the second door,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the photographing device is provided on the vertical partition member.   The refrigerator according to claim 4, further comprising a heater provided on the vertical partition member and capable of heating the imaging device.   The refrigerator as described in any one of Claims 1-5 provided with the direction change means to change the direction of the said imaging device.   The refrigerator as described in any one of Claims 1-6 provided with the moving means to move the position of the said imaging device to an up-down direction.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control unit generates one image based on a plurality of images captured by the imaging device. A door sensor for detecting the opening and closing of the door;
The control unit causes the imaging device to take an image of the storage chamber when the door sensor detects a closing operation of the opening / closing door, and turns off the illumination device after the imaging by the imaging device is completed. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 8 to 9. A temperature and humidity sensor for measuring the temperature and humidity outside the refrigerator;
When the door sensor detects the closing operation of the door, the control unit sets a shooting standby time after the closing operation based on a measurement result of the temperature / humidity sensor, and sets the shooting standby time of the set shooting standby time. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein after the elapse of time, the image capturing device captures an image in the storage chamber, and the lighting device is turned off after the image capturing by the image capturing device is completed.

Images