Refrigeration appliance comprising a camera module

• US 10,330,377 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2014
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Klingshirn, Astrid
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Aaron W
• Application Number:
  US14/897,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20160138857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 382219, 382220, 382100, 382110, 382143, 382154, 382103, 382255, 62 30, 235383, 235385, 348552, 348563, 348734, 4221863
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/06 Sensors detecting the presence of a product
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/68 Food, e.g. fruit or vegetables

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance includes a camera module for detecting first image data of an item to be refrigerated at a first time point and second image data of the item to be refrigerated at a second time point. A freshness determination device is provided for determining the state of freshness of the item to be refrigerated based on the first image data and the second image data.

Claims

1. A refrigeration appliance, comprising:

a refrigeration compartment;

a shelf disposed in said refrigeration compartment;

a film-shaped sensor mat disposed on said for detecting weight alterations of a loading of said shelf;

a camera module for detecting first image data of an item to be refrigerated at a first time point and second image data of the item to be refrigerated at a second time point, the first image data and the second image data being three-color color image data and the item being disposed on said shelf; and

a freshness determinator including a processor device for processing the first and second image data, said processor device being configured for determining a state of freshness of the item to be refrigerated based on a color difference between the first image data and the second image data, and said processor device being configured for determining a state of freshness of the item to be refrigerated based on data relating to weight alterations detected by said sensor mat; and

said freshness determinator being configured to detect a type of item to be refrigerated based on the first image data and the second image data.

2. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said freshness determination device is configured to determine the state of freshness of the item to be refrigerated based on the type of item to be refrigerated.

3. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said camera module includes a light sensor array for detecting the first or second image data.

4. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, which further comprises a refrigeration compartment, and a lighting device for lighting said refrigeration compartment when detecting at least one of the first or second image data.

5. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 4, wherein said lighting device is configured to transmit monochromatic light of a predetermined frequency.

6. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 5, wherein said lighting device includes a light source configured to be adjusted according to frequency, for transmitting the monochromatic light.

7. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 4, wherein said lighting device is configured to transmit polychromatic light.

8. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, which further comprises a display device for displaying the state of freshness of the item to be refrigerated.

9. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, which further comprises:

a refrigeration appliance door; and

a sensor for detecting an opening of said refrigeration appliance door to prevent a detection of the first or second image data when said refrigeration appliance door is open.