Refrigerator appliance and corresponding control system

Abstract

A refrigerator control system utilizes infrared cameras positioned within the refrigerator. The infrared cameras are configured to monitor a food item placed in the refrigerator to determine if the food item exceeds a set temperature. The system may then alert a user over a wireless network of the food item exceeding the set temperature while simultaneously controlling the operation of the refrigerator compressor to control the internal temperature of the refrigerator in order to cool the food item. The system also monitors the temperature variations to determine if there are any thermal losses. The system may send the user a cooling map to allow the user to determine if service is required. Alternatively, the system may alert or notify a service center directly. The service center may then alert the user or dispatch a service provider.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet defining an internal cavity;   an infrared camera operable to monitor the internal cavity, monitor objects disposed within the internal cavity, and generate temperature data corresponding to temperatures within the internal cavity and temperatures of the objects;   a refrigeration system operable to cool the internal cavity and the objects;   a controller programmed to, (i) receive the temperature data from the infrared camera and (ii) in response to the temperature data including a temperature of at least one of the objects deviating from a range, control the refrigeration system to drive the temperature of the at least one of the objects toward the range; and   a transmitter in communication with the controller and operable to transmit the temperature data to an external device.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature of the at least one of the objects exceeding the range, activate the refrigeration system to decrease the temperature of the at least one of the objects and drive the temperature of the at least one of the objects toward the range. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature of the at least one of the objects being less than the range, deactivate the refrigeration system to increase the temperature of the at least one of the objects and drive the temperature of the at least one of the objects toward the range. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature of the at least one of the objects deviating from the range for a predetermined period of time, generate and send an alert via the transmitter to the external device. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature of the at least one of the objects deviating from the range for a predetermined period of time, contact a service center via the transmitter to schedule maintenance for the refrigerator. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature of the at least one of the objects deviating from the range for a predetermined period of time, contact a service center via the transmitter to order replacement parts. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature data being indicative of a leak from the cabinet, contact a service center via the transmitter to schedule maintenance for the refrigerator. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature data being indicative of a leak from the cabinet, contact a service center via the transmitter to order replacement parts. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature data corresponds to a temperature map of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerant circuit (i) having a compressor and (ii) operable to cool an internal space defined within the refrigerator via activation of the compressor;   an infrared camera operable to create a temperature map of the internal space; and   a controller programmed to, (i) receive the temperature map from the infrared camera and (ii) control the compressor based on the temperature map to drive a temperature of an object disposed within the internal space toward a desired range.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature map being indicative of the temperature of the object exceeding the desired range, activate the compressor to decrease the temperature of the object and drive the temperature of the object toward the desired range. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature map being indicative of the temperature of the object being less than the desired range, deactivate the compressor to increase the temperature of the object and drive the temperature of the object toward the desired range. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further programmed to wirelessly transmit the temperature map to an external device. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature map being indicative of the temperature of the object deviating from the desired range for a predetermined period of time, wirelessly send an alert to the external device. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature map being indicative of the temperature of the object deviating from the desired range for a predetermined period of time, wirelessly contact a service center to schedule maintenance for the refrigerator. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature map being indicative of the temperature of the object deviating from the desired range for a predetermined period of time, wirelessly contact a service center to order replacement parts for the refrigerator. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature map being indicative of a leak from the internal space, wirelessly contact a service center to schedule maintenance for the refrigerator. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature map being indicative of a leak from the internal space, wirelessly contact a service center to order replacement parts for the refrigerator. 
     
     
         19 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigeration system operable to cool an internal space defined within the refrigerator;   an infrared camera operable to create a temperature map of the internal space; and   a controller programmed to, (i) receive the temperature map from the infrared camera, (ii) control the refrigeration system based the temperature map, and (iii) wirelessly transmit the temperature map to an external device.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature map being indicative of an object within the internal space deviating from a range, wirelessly send an alert to the external device.