Refrigerator camera modules and methods for conserving energy at the same
地域：
DE
DE Wilmington
摘要
A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a camera module, a user-detection assembly, and a controller. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber. The camera module may be mounted to the cabinet within the chilled chamber. The camera module may be alternately activated in a low-power sleep mode and a high-power awake mode. The user-detection assembly may be mounted to the cabinet to detect a user presence independent from rotation of the door. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module and the user-detection assembly. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine that includes receiving one or more detection signals from the user-detection assembly, determining a user presence based on the received one or more detection signals, and directing the camera module to the high-power awake mode from the low-power sleep mode in response to determining the user presence.
說明書
The present subject matter relates generally to systems and methods for conserving the energy consumption of a camera, particularly for a camera in a refrigerator appliance.
Storage enclosures, such as refrigerator appliances and pantries, generally provide an enclosed chamber for receiving multiple items or objects. For example, refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. A user can place food items or objects within the chilled chamber in order to hinder perishing of such food items. Thereby, a useable life of perishable items or objects can be increased.
權(quán)利要求
What is claimed is:1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; a door being rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber; a camera module mounted to the cabinet within the chilled chamber, the camera module being alternately activated in a low-power sleep mode and a high-power awake mode; a user-detection assembly mounted to the cabinet to detect a user presence independent from rotation of the door; and a controller operably coupled to the camera module and the user-detection assembly, the controller being configured to initiate an operation routine comprisingreceiving one or more detection signals from the user-detection assembly, determining a user presence based on the received one or more detection signals, and directing the camera module to the high-power awake mode from the low-power sleep mode in response to determining the user presence. 2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , the operation routine further comprisingdetecting the door in an open position subsequent to the directing the camera module to the high-power awake mode, and initiating an image capture sequence at the camera module in response to detecting the door in the open position. 3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2 , further comprising a door switch in selective communication with the door, wherein detecting the door in the open position comprises receiving an open signal from the door switch. 4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2 , the operation routine further comprising receiving a static image signal from the camera module during the image capture sequence, wherein detecting the door in the open position comprises detecting an elevated image value in the received static image signal. 5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , the operation routine further comprising initiating an image capture sequence at the camera module in response to directing the camera module to the high-power awake mode. 6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 5 , the operation routine further comprisingreceiving a static image signal from the camera module during the image capture sequence, and discarding the received static image signal. 7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the user-detection assembly comprises a wireless module to wirelessly connect with a user device, and wherein receiving one or more detection signals comprises receiving a wireless connection signal from the user device. 8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the user-detection assembly comprises a body sensor module to detect a physical presence forward from the cabinet, and wherein receiving one or more detection signals comprises receiving a presence signal corresponding to a physical body from the body sensor module. 9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the camera module is mounted within a cabinet at a top portion of a chilled chamber. 10. A method of operating a refrigerator appliance comprising a cabinet, a user-detection assembly mounted to the cabinet, and a camera module mounted to the cabinet within a chilled chamber, the method comprising:receiving one or more detection signals from the user-detection assembly; determining a user presence based on the received one or more detection signals; and directing the camera module to a high-power awake mode from the low-power sleep mode in response to determining the user presence. 11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises door mounted to the cabinet, the method further comprising:detecting the door in an open position subsequent to the directing the camera module to the high-power awake mode; and initiating an image capture sequence at the camera module in response to detecting the door in the open position. 12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a door switch in selective communication with the door,wherein detecting the door in the open position comprises receiving an open signal from the door switch. 13. The method of claim 11 , the method further comprising:receiving a static image signal from the camera module during the image capture sequence, wherein detecting the door in the open position comprises detecting an elevated image value in the received static image signal. 14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:initiating an image capture sequence at the camera module in response to directing the camera module to the high-power awake mode. 15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:receiving a static image signal from the camera module during the image capture sequence, and discarding the received static image signal. 16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the user-detection assembly comprises a wireless module to wirelessly connect with a user device, and wherein receiving one or more detection signals comprises receiving a wireless connection signal from the user device. 17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the user-detection assembly comprises a body sensor module to detect a physical presence forward from the cabinet, and wherein receiving one or more detection signals comprises receiving a presence signal corresponding to a physical body from the body sensor module. 18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the camera module is mounted within a cabinet at a top portion of a chilled chamber.
意見反饋
使用該功能遇到問題