Home refrigerator systems imaging their interior and methods

Abstract

A home refrigerator system ( 200 ) includes an enclosure ( 202 ) that defines an interior ( 203 ) for storing food ( 223, 224 ), a machine ( 209 ) for cooling the interior ( 203 ), a door ( 205 ) usable for accessing the interior ( 203 ), and a camera ( 252 ) for imaging the interior ( 203 ) while the door ( 205 ) is shut. The camera generates a signal ( 284 ) encoding the image of the interior. The signal ( 284 ) can be viewed on a screen ( 286 ) outside the interior, to assist in decision-making without opening the door ( 205 ).

1 . A home refrigerator system comprising: 
 an enclosure defining an interior for storing food;    at least one door that can be opened for accessing the interior, and shut for sealing the interior substantially airtightly;    a machine for cooling air in the interior; and    a first camera coupled with the enclosure for generating an image of at least a portion of the interior when the door is shut.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , in which 
 a component of the camera is fixedly attached to the enclosure.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein 
 a component of the camera is mounted on the door.    
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the camera is disposed wholly in the interior, and    further comprising at least a portion of a conductor for transferring the image from the interior to a screen outside the interior.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an imaging switch for activating the camera to generate the image when the door is shut.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , in which 
 the imaging switch is adapted to be actuated by a pushbutton.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , in which 
 the imaging switch is adapted to be actuated by an electrical signal.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , in which 
 when the imaging switch is actuated, it activates the camera, and    when the actuation is discontinued, activating is continued for a period of time.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a memory for storing the image.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein 
 a SAME flag is set upon storing the image, and    the SAME flag is unset if the door is subsequently opened.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein 
 no new image is generated if the switch is actuated and the SAME flag is set.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a home network connection for guiding the image to a screen.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein 
 the connection includes a wireless segment.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a mirror to assist in the imaging.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein 
 the mirror has alternating areas of a first reflection characteristic and of a second reflection characteristic.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a light source for illuminating the interior while the camera images the interior.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , in which 
 a component of the camera is fixedly attached to the enclosure.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein 
 a component of the camera is mounted on the door.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 an imaging switch for activating, when the door is shut, at least one of the light source and the camera.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , in which 
 the imaging switch is adapted to be actuated by a pushbutton.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , in which 
 the imaging switch is adapted to be actuated by an electrical signal.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 19 , in which 
 when the imaging switch is actuated, it activates the one of the light source and the camera, and    when the actuation is discontinued, activating is continued for a period of time.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a screen outside the interior for displaying the imaged interior.    
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , in which 
 a component of the camera is fixedly attached to the enclosure.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein 
 a component of the camera is mounted on the door.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 23 , in which 
 the screen is coupled to the door.    
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 23 , in which 
 the screen is formed integrally with the door.    
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 23 , in which 
 the screen is further adapted to display television images.    
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 a conductor for transferring from the camera to the screen a signal encoding the image.    
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 an imaging switch for activating, when the door is shut, at least one of the screen and the camera.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , in which 
 the screen is further adapted to display television images, and    the imaging switch is further adapted to control which one of the imaged interior and television images is displayed by the screen.    
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 30 , in which 
 the imaging switch is adapted to be actuated by a pushbutton.    
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 30 , in which 
 the imaging switch is adapted to be actuated by an electrical signal.    
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 30 , in which 
 when the imaging switch is actuated, it activates the one of the screen and the camera, and    when the actuation is discontinued, activating is continued for a period of time.    
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second camera coupled with the enclosure and positioned to image at least a portion of the interior when the door is shut.    
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , in which 
 a component of the first camera is fixedly attached to the door, and a component of the second camera is fixedly attached to the enclosure.    
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 an imaging switch for activating, when the door is shut, at least one of the screen, the first camera and the second camera.    
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , in which 
 the imaging switch is adapted to be actuated by a pushbutton.    
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 37 , in which 
 the imaging switch is adapted to be actuated by an electrical signal.    
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 37 , in which 
 the imaging switch is adapted to activate the first camera and the second camera.    
   
   
       41 . A device comprising: 
 means for imaging at least a portion of an interior of a home refrigerator while a door usable for accessing the interior remains shut;    means for generating a signal that encodes the imaged interior; and    means for displaying the imaged interior on a screen located outside the interior responsive to receiving the signal.    
   
   
       42 . The refrigerator of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 means for storing the image.    
   
   
       43 . The refrigerator of  claim 41 , in which 
 the means for imaging images in response to perceiving a switch being actuated.    
   
   
       44 . The refrigerator of  claim 43 , in which 
 the switch is actuated by pushing a button.    
   
   
       45 . The refrigerator of  claim 43 , in which 
 the switch is actuated by receiving a command signal.    
   
   
       46 . The refrigerator of  claim 45 , in which 
 the command signal is received over a network.    
   
   
       47 . The refrigerator of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 means for illuminating the interior while imaging.    
   
   
       48 . A method for a home refrigerator comprising: 
 imaging at least a portion of an interior of the refrigerator while a door usable for accessing the interior remains shut.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , in which 
 imaging is performed in response to perceiving a switch being actuated.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , in which 
 the switch is actuated by pushing a button.    
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 49 , in which 
 the switch is actuated by receiving a command signal.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , in which 
 the command signal is received over a network.    
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising: 
 storing the image.    
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising: 
 setting a SAME flag upon storing the image; and    unsetting the SAME flag if the door is subsequently opened.    
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein 
 no new image is generated if the switch is actuated and the SAME flag is set.    
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 illuminating the interior while imaging.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , in which 
 illuminating is performed in response to perceiving a switch being actuated.    
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57 , in which 
 the switch is actuated by pushing a button.    
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 57 , in which 
 the switch is actuated by receiving a command signal.    
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 generating a signal that encodes the imaged interior; and    displaying the imaged interior on a screen located outside the interior responsive to receiving the signal.    
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60 , in which 
 displaying is performed in response to perceiving a switch being actuated.    
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , in which 
 the switch is actuated by pushing a button.    
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 61 , in which 
 the switch is actuated by receiving a command signal.    
   
   
       64 . A method for using a home refrigerator comprising: 
 viewing on a screen a displayed image of an interior of the refrigerator while a door usable for accessing the interior remains shut.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64 , in which 
 the screen is attached to the refrigerator.    
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising: 
 actuating a switch to cause the screen to display the imaged interior while the door remains shut.    
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66 , in which 
 the switch is located on the refrigerator.    
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 66 , in which 
 the switch is actuated by pushing a button.    
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 66 , in which 
 actuating the switch also causes the interior to be illuminated.    
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 66 , in which 
 the switch is actuated by transmitting a command signal.    
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 70 , in which 
 the command signal is transmitted over a network.