Camera system and refrigerator

Abstract

One embodiment of a camera system is provided with a camera device serving as an image capturing unit; a communication unit configured to transmit image information captured by the camera device to an external device; and a display terminal configured to display image information captured by the camera device, the display terminal being configured to display at least either of image information captured by the camera device according to prescribed conditions and image information captured according to user instructions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A camera system comprising:
 a camera provided in a storage chamber of a refrigerator and configured to capture an image of the storage chamber; and   storage amount detection unit constructed and arranged to detect a storage amount of a stored item for at least one shelf or at least one container, stored in the storage chamber whose image is captured by the camera,   wherein when the storage amount detected by the storage amount detection means is changed, the camera captures an image of the storage chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The camera system according to  claim 1 , wherein image capturing settings for the camera device is specifiable from the display terminal. 
     
     
         3 . The camera system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display terminal configured to display image information captured by the camera and conditions applied to captured image information. 
     
     
         4 . The camera system according to  claim 3 , wherein the camera system is configurable with a plurality of the cameras, wherein the display terminal is configured to display image information captured by the camera selected by a user from the plurality of the cameras. 
     
     
         5 . The camera system according to  claim 3 , wherein the display terminal is configured to display a location where the camera is installed. 
     
     
         6 . The camera system according to  claim 3 , wherein the display terminal is configured to display a selection screen for selecting an image capturing method registered to the camera, and wherein an image capturing method can be specified by selecting either of image capturing methods registered to the camera. 
     
     
         7 . The camera system according to  claim 6 , wherein the image capturing methods include capturing image at a preset time or capturing image when receiving image capturing instructions from the display terminal. 
     
     
         8 . The camera system according to  claim 3 , wherein a view of the camera may be longitudinally elongate or horizontally elongate depending upon how the camera is installed, wherein the display terminal is capable of displaying image information in a longitudinally elongate view and in a horizontally elongate view. 
     
     
         9 . The camera system according to  claim 1  provided with a plurality of the cameras, wherein image is captured by a camera located in a position corresponding to where a change in storage amount has been detected by the storage amount detecting unit. 
     
     
         10 . The camera system according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage amount detection unit is provided with an irradiating unit configured to irradiate light to a storage and a light receiving unit configured to receive light inside the storage, and wherein the storage amount detection unit is configured to detect storage amount based on amount of light received by the light receiving unit. 
     
     
         11 . The camera system according to  claim 1 , wherein the camera is provided with an image capture lighting unit configured to be illuminated during image capturing, and wherein storage amount is detected by receiving light produced by the image capture lighting unit by the light receiving unit during image capturing. 
     
     
         12 . The camera system according to  claim 11 , wherein the camera and the light receiving unit are covered by a cover member, and wherein the cover member is provided with a light receiving hole configured to allow the light receiving unit to receive light and an image capturing hole configured to allow image capturing by the camera being independent of one another. 
     
     
         13 . The camera system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a non-white first light emitting unit or a second light emitting unit located in a position different from left side, right side, upper side, and lower side walls of the storage as well as from a door of the storage, wherein the first light emitting unit or the second light emitting unit are inactivated when capturing image with the camera device. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a camera provided in a storage chamber of the refrigerator and configured to capture an image of the storage chamber; and   storage amount detection means for detecting a storage amount of the stored item for at least one shelf or at least one container stored in the storage chamber whose image is captured by the camera,   wherein when the storage amount detected by the storage amount detection means is changed, the camera captures an image of the storage chamber.