REFRIGERATOR AND HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME

• US 20180089973A1
• Filed: 08/29/2017
• Published: 03/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Sangoh, KIM, Hyungyul, YUN, Jongho, HAN, Cholok
• Granted Patent: US 10,769,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/04 Sensors detecting the presence of a person
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/008 Alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication

Abstract

A refrigerator may include: a communication device, an object detection sensor for sensing an object positioned within a predetermined region around the refrigerator door; and a controller for controlling the refrigerator to operate in a specific mode based on a connected state between the communication network and preset mobile terminals. If an object sensing signal is received from the object detection sensor in the specific mode, the controller may send a notification to at least one of the preset mobile terminals through the communication network.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a communication device at the refrigerator to connect to a communication network;

an object detection sensor provided at a refrigerator door, and the object detection sensor to detect an object within a predetermined distance from the object detection sensor; and

a controller that controls the refrigerator to operate in a specific mode based on a connected state between the communication network and at least one of a plurality of mobile terminals,

wherein in response to receiving an object sensing signal from the object detection sensor while the refrigerator is operating in the specific mode, the controller contacts the communication device to send a notification to at least one of the preset mobile terminals through the communication network.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein when at least one of the mobile terminals is not connected to the wireless communication network, the controller controls the refrigerator to enter the specific mode.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising:

a camera at the refrigerator, and the camera is exposed to outside the refrigerator when the refrigerator door is open; and

a door switch that senses whether the refrigerator door is open,

wherein in response to receiving, from the door switch, a signal indicating the refrigerator door is open while the refrigerator is in the specific mode, the controller controls the camera to capture an image, and controls the communication device to send the captured image to at least one of the mobile terminals through the communication network.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the controller performs an image processing with respect to a face included in the captured image, and deletes the captured image when the face included in the captured image is determined to match a preset face.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the controller controls the communication device to send a notification requesting a connection with the communication network, to a mobile terminal of a user determined to match the face in the captured image.

6. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising a camera at the refrigerator, and the camera is exposed to outside the refrigerator when the refrigerator door is open,

wherein in response to receiving an object sensing signal from the object detection sensor while the refrigerator is in the specific mode, the controller controls the refrigerator door to open, controls the camera to capture an image while the refrigerator door is open, and controls the communication device to send the captured image to at least one of the mobile terminals through the communication network.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the object detection sensor includes:

a first sensor that senses a first object; and

a second sensor disposed below the first sensor, and the second sensor to sense a first object and a second object,

wherein when an object is sensed by the second sensor and the object is not sensed by the first sensor, the controller controls components such that a notification is not to be sent.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein when only a specific mobile terminal, from among the mobile terminals, is connected to the communication network, the controller controls the refrigerator to enter the specific mode.

9. A refrigerator, comprising:

a communication device at the refrigerator to connect to a communication network;

a door switch that senses an open state of a refrigerator door; and

a controller that controls the refrigerator to operate in a specific mode based on a connected state between the communication network and at least one of a plurality of mobile terminals,

wherein in response to receiving a signal indicating an open state of the refrigerator door when the refrigerator is operating in the specific mode, the controller controls the communication device to send a notification to at least one of the mobile terminals through the communication network.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein when at least one of the mobile terminals is not connected to the communication network, the controller controls the refrigerator to enter the specific mode.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10, further comprising a camera at the refrigerator, and the camera is exposed to outside the refrigerator when the refrigerator door is open,

wherein in response to receiving a signal indicating the open state of the refrigerator door when the refrigerator is operating in the specific mode, the controller controls the camera to capture an image, and controls the communication device to send the captured image to at least one of the mobile terminals through the communication network.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the controller performs an image processing with respect to a face included in the captured image, and deletes the captured image when the face included in the captured image is determined to match a preset face.

13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the communication device to send a notification requesting a connection with the communication network, to a mobile terminal of a user determined to match the face in the captured image.

14. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein when only a specific mobile terminal, from among the mobile terminals, is connected to the communication network, the controller controls the refrigerator to enter the specific mode.

15. A refrigerator, comprising:

a communication device provided at the refrigerator to connect to a communication network;

an object detection sensor provided at a refrigerator door to detect an object within a predetermined distance from the sensor;

a camera at the refrigerator, and the camera exposed to outside the refrigerator when the refrigerator door is open; and

a controller that controls the refrigerator to operate in a specific mode based on a user'"'"'s setting,

wherein in response to receiving an object sensing signal from the object detection sensor when the refrigerator is operating in the specific mode, the controller controls the refrigerator door to open, controls the camera to capture an image while the refrigerator door is open, and controls the communication device to send the captured image to at least one of a plurality of mobile terminals through the communication network.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein in response to receiving an object sensing signal from the object detection sensor while the refrigerator is operating in the specific mode, the controller contacts the communication device to send a notification to at least one of the mobile terminals through the communication network.

17. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the controller performs an image processing with respect to a face included in the captured image, and deletes the captured image when the face included in the captured image is determined to match a preset face.

18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the controller controls the communication device to send a notification requesting a connection with the communication network, to a mobile terminal of a user determined to match the face in the captured image.

19. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the object detection sensor includes:

a first sensor that senses a first object; and

a second sensor disposed below the first sensor, and the second sensor to sense a first object and a second object,

wherein when an object is sensed by the second sensor while an object is not sensed by the first sensor, the controller controls components such that a notification is not to be sent.

20. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein when only a specific mobile terminal, from among the mobile terminals, is connected to the communication network, the controller controls the refrigerator to enter the specific mode.