JP6857201B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to refrigerators.

Conventionally, it has been proposed that a refrigerator is provided with a voice recording / reproducing function to notify a message (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, in the configuration where the message is confirmed based on the operation of a person, it is necessary to perform the confirmation operation even if there is no message, which imposes a burden, and if the confirmation operation is forgotten, the message itself is transmitted. It may not be. On the other hand, in a configuration in which a message is played when a person is detected, it will be annoying if the message is intended for another person.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-31468

An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of reproducing a message without imposing a burden on a person and without making a person feel annoyed.

The refrigerator according to the embodiment includes a notification means for notifying the presence or absence of a message, and the message is stored in association with incidental information which is information that can identify the target person, and the notification means is based on the incidental information. Therefore, even when the refrigerator door is closed, the person who is the target of the message is notified of the presence or absence of the message.

The figure which shows the outline of the structure of the home message system which adopted the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows typically the appearance of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment The figure which shows typically the structure of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment The figure which shows typically the electric structure of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment The figure which shows the flow of the notification processing by the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment FIG. 1 showing an example of a notification screen by the refrigerator of the first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the message storage screen in 1st Embodiment FIG. 2 showing an example of a notification screen by the refrigerator of the first embodiment FIG. 1 showing the flow of timing setting processing by the refrigerator of the second embodiment. FIG. 2 showing the flow of timing setting processing by the refrigerator of the second embodiment. The figure which shows typically the structure of the notification means by the refrigerator of another embodiment.

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The parts that are substantially common in the plurality of embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
(First Embodiment)
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the home message system 100 that employs the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the refrigerator 1 is communicably connected to the external network 102 via the wireless access point 101. The refrigerator 1 exchanges various information with the terminal device 103 and the server 104 (corresponding to an external device) connected to the network 102. In this embodiment, the so-called Internet is assumed as the network 102. The terminal device 103 can communicate with the refrigerator 1 not only outside the house 105 but also inside the house 105. Further, the terminal device 103 may be a personal computer or the like installed in the house 105. Hereinafter, the device capable of communicating with the refrigerator 1 will be referred to as an external device for convenience. The information exchanged between the refrigerator 1 and the external device includes the message targeted in the present embodiment. Further, in the present embodiment, a so-called smartphone, tablet personal computer, or the like is assumed as the terminal device 103.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the refrigerator 1 has a refrigerating room 3, a vegetable room 4, an ice making room 5, and an upper freezing room 6 which are storage rooms for storing foodstuffs in order from the top inside the main body 2. , And a lower freezing chamber 7. The refrigerating room 3 and the vegetable room 4 and the ice making room 5 and the upper freezing room 6 are separated by a heat insulating partition wall. As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator compartment 3 is opened and closed by the so-called Kannon type left door 3a and right door 3b, and the vegetable compartment 4, the ice making chamber 5, the upper freezer compartment 6 and the lower freezer compartment 7 are pull-out doors. It is opened and closed by 4a, a door 5a, a door 6a, and a door 7a, respectively. Further, each door has a sensor for detecting the open / closed state (see FIG. 4. Refrigerator room left door sensor 35a, refrigerating room right door sensor 35b, vegetable room door sensor 36, ice making room door sensor 37, upper freezing room door sensor. 38, the lower freezer door sensor 39) is provided. The above-mentioned configuration of the storage chamber is an example, and the arrangement order of the storage chambers may be different, or the upper freezing chamber 6 may be a switching chamber capable of switching between refrigeration and freezing, for example. The refrigerator 1 is installed in a so-called live activity line, which is a place that people always use when they live, such as a kitchen.

As shown in FIG. 3, behind the refrigerating chamber 3, there is a refrigerating cooler 8 for the refrigerating chamber 3 and the vegetable compartment 4, and a refrigerating fan 9 for circulating the air cooled by the refrigerating cooler 8. Is provided. Behind the ice making chamber 5, there are a freezing cooler 10 for the ice making chamber 5, the upper freezing chamber 6 and the lower freezing chamber 7, and a freezing fan 11 for circulating the air cooled by the freezing cooler 10. Is provided. The refrigerating cooler 8 and the freezing cooler 10 are driven by a compressor 13 arranged in a machine room 12 behind the lower freezing chamber 7. The compressor 13 constitutes a well-known freezing cycle together with the refrigerating cooler 8 and the refrigerating cooler 10. The operating state of this freezing cycle is controlled by the main control unit 30 (see FIG. 4) according to the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the refrigerating room temperature sensor 14 and the freezing room temperature sensor 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, the left door 3a of the refrigerator compartment 3 is provided with an operation panel 16 (which constitutes an operation input means) having a display and switches. The display of the operation panel 16 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and displays various information about the refrigerator 1 using characters, graphs, and the like. Further, the switches on the operation panel 16 are composed of a plurality of switches such as a mechanical switch and a touch panel type switch, and various operations such as setting for the refrigerator 1 are input by a person.

A motion sensor 17 (which constitutes a human detection means) is provided on the right door 3b of the refrigerator compartment 3. The motion sensor 17 has a detector (or a combination of these detectors) that detects, for example, infrared rays, visible light, ultrasonic waves, etc., and non-contacts a person located in front of the refrigerator 1. Detect. In this case, the motion sensor 17 may be configured to determine that a person is finally detected when, for example, continuously detects a person for a certain period of time (that is, when a person is detected a plurality of times), or the distance can be measured. It may be configured to detect a person when it is determined that the refrigerator 1 is approaching.

Each door of the refrigerating chamber 3 is provided with a left door touch sensor 18a (which constitutes a person detecting means) and a right door touch sensor 18b (which constitutes a person detecting means), and a person can use each touch sensor. When touched, the corresponding door is opened by the door opening device 19 (see FIG. 2) provided on the upper part of the main body 2.

Further, in the right door 3b of the refrigerator compartment 3, a display terminal 20 (constituting a notification means, a display output means, and a communication means), an imaging camera 21 (constituting a person detecting means), and a microphone 22 (constituting a communication means). ), And a speaker 23 (which constitutes a notification means and a voice output means) are provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the display terminal 20 is provided so that its surface is located on the same surface as the right door 3b of the refrigerating chamber 3 or slightly inside the right door 3b. The details of the configuration of the display terminal 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 4, which will be described later.

The image pickup camera 21 has an image pickup element such as a CCD or CMOS, and images the outside of the refrigerator 1. The image pickup camera 21 is configured to be capable of capturing both still images and moving images. The image sensor may be either a color image or a monochrome image. Hereinafter, still images and moving images are collectively referred to as images. Further, the image pickup camera 21 is provided at a position above and near the center of the display terminal 20, that is, at a position where the target person looking at the display terminal 20 can be imaged from substantially the front. The microphone 22 acquires a voice outside the refrigerator, for example, a human voice. The speaker 23 outputs the sound from the display terminal 20 side.

As shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerator 1 having such a configuration is controlled by the main control unit 30. The main control unit 30 is composed of a computer having a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, and the like, and controls the entire refrigerator 1 according to a computer program stored in the ROM 32 and the like, for example. Further, the main control unit 30 has a real-time clock (hereinafter referred to as RTC34) as a timekeeping means, and can acquire time information. The time information that can be acquired includes time, date, day of the week, and the like. More specifically, the main control unit 30 operates the refrigerating cycle (each cooler and each fan) according to the ambient temperature, the temperature of the storage chamber detected by the refrigerating chamber temperature sensor 14 or the refrigerating chamber temperature sensor 15, and the like. Operation) is controlled. Further, when the main control unit 30 can determine that the possibility of using the refrigerator 1 is low, such as when a person is not detected by the motion sensor 17 or when the time acquired from the RTC 34 is midnight. Controls for energy-saving operation are performed.

Further, the main control unit 30 is connected to the refrigerating room left door sensor 35a, the refrigerating room right door sensor 35b, the vegetable room door sensor 36, the ice making room door sensor 37, the upper freezing room door sensor 38, and the lower freezing room door sensor 39. It detects the open / closed state of each door. Each of these sensors constitutes a human detection means. Specifically, the main control unit 30 opens one of the doors when the motion sensor 17 detects a person, when the operation panel 16 is operated, or when the touch sensor of the refrigerator compartment 3 is operated. If any of the doors are opened and then closed, it is determined that a person has been detected. Information indicating that a person has been detected is transmitted to the display terminal 20 side as will be described later.

The main control unit 30 of the refrigerator 1 is communicably connected to the display terminal 20. The display terminal 20 is controlled by the control unit 40. The control unit 40 is composed of a computer having a CPU 41, a ROM 42, a RAM 43, an RTC 44, and the like, and controls the entire display terminal 20 according to a computer program stored in, for example, the ROM 42. Further, the control unit 40 is connected to the image pickup camera 21, the microphone 22, the speaker 23, the display unit 45, the touch panel 46, and the communication unit 47 described above.

The display unit 45 is composed of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and the like, and displays various information including a message described later. The touch panel 46 is provided corresponding to the display unit 45 and accepts the operation of the target person. The communication unit 47 communicates with the wireless access point 101 by a wireless communication method, and enables transmission and reception of various information including a message with the terminal device 103 via the network 102.

The message notified by the refrigerator 1 having such a configuration is stored in the external server 104 instead of the refrigerator 1. As will be described later, in this message, at least information that can identify the person to be the message and information that can identify the content of the message are stored as incidental information in association with each other. Here, the information that can specify the content of the message includes, in addition to the message itself, the classification (category) of the message, whether or not a reply to the message is required, the storage format of the message, and the like.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 described later, as information that can identify the person to be messaged (“destination” shown in FIG. 7), for example, there are four residents of the house 105. Yes, assuming their parents, sons and daughters, "dad", "mother", "brother", and "sister" are set to indicate each. Further, as information that can identify the content of the message, "contact", "reply required", "foodstuff", and "other" indicating the classification of the message ("content" shown in FIG. 7) are set. In addition, "voice", "video", and "character" are set as the message storage format. The details of each item will be described later.
Next, the operation of the refrigerator 1 will be described.

Since the refrigerator 1 has a storage room for storing food, it is used almost every day for cooking, and it is almost always used in daily life (so-called live activity line). Often installed. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 is suitable as a home electric appliance for notifying a message.

The refrigerator 1 is executing the notification process shown in FIG. 5 and determines whether or not the notification timing has been reached (A1). Here, the notification timing has almost the same meaning as "when a person is detected", but in the present embodiment, "when a person is detected" is defined as "when a person is detected".
-When the motion sensor 17 detects that a person is approaching-When the operation panel 16 is operated.
-When the left door touch sensor 18a or the right door touch sensor 18b of the refrigerator compartment 3 is operated.
-When the door of one of the storage rooms is opened.
-When the door of any storage room is closed after it is opened.

Is assumed. Therefore, these are collectively referred to as "notification timing". In this embodiment, it is assumed that which one is to be the notification timing is set in advance, but even if the notification timing is individually set or changed based on the incidental information as in the second embodiment described later. Good.

When the refrigerator 1 determines that the preset notification timing has been reached (A1: YES), the refrigerator 1 confirms with the server 104 whether or not there is a message (A2). Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 proceeds to step A1 when there is no message (A3: NO). On the other hand, when there is a message (A3: YES), the refrigerator 1 notifies the presence / absence of the message (A4). That is, the refrigerator 1 first confirms whether or not the message is stored, and then does not suddenly reproduce the message, but first notifies the presence or absence of the message and prompts the user to confirm the message. This reduces the annoyance felt when, for example, a message addressed to another person is reproduced.

At this time, the refrigerator 1 performs a notification operation for notifying the presence or absence of a message by displaying a notification screen shown as an example in FIG. 6 on the display unit 45 of the display terminal 20. On this display unit 45, along with a message such as "There is a message", the destination icons M1 to M4 ("dad", "mother", "brother", "sister"), and the number of memorized messages are displayed. The number display areas M5 to M8 to be displayed for each destination, the play button M9 for inputting the playback operation for playing back the stored message, and the information display area M10 for displaying the information about the played message are provided. ..

In the case of FIG. 6, it is shown that there is one message for "dad" and two messages for "sister". In addition, the icons of "mother" and "brother" without a message are grayed out to notify that there is no message. That is, the refrigerator 1 identifies a person to be messaged and notifies that there is a message to that person. Note that FIG. 6 schematically shows grayout by hatching.

When the presence / absence of a message is notified in this way, the person confirms the display unit 45 and first touch-operates his / her icon to select the message to be reproduced, and then touch-operates the play button M9. By doing so (by performing the playback operation), the stored message will be played back. If there is only one message, or if only one person is set as the destination, the message can be reproduced by touching the play button M9 as it is.

Therefore, the refrigerator 1 determines whether the reproduction operation has been performed (A5) and whether the predetermined period has passed (A8), and when the reproduction operation is performed (A5: YES), the server 104 determines. Acquire a message (A6) and play the acquired message (A7). At this time, if the message is voice, the message is reproduced by voice from the speaker 23, and if the message is an image (still image, moving image, etc.), the video is reproduced on the display unit 45. If it is a sentence (so-called text), the text is displayed in the information display area M10. In the information display area M10, incidental information such as "destination" and "content" is also displayed, and "From" (see FIG. 11 to be described later) and the like indicating the sender are also displayed.

In this case, when the presence / absence of a message is notified, it is considered that the person checks the screen and does not perform the playback operation unless the message is addressed to him / her. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 ends the process when the predetermined period has passed without the reproduction operation being performed (A8: YES). The predetermined period can be arbitrarily set, for example, 30 seconds.
In this way, the refrigerator 1 notifies the presence or absence of a message and reproduces the message.

Here, a procedure for storing a message to be reproduced in the refrigerator 1 will be described. Hereinafter, an example in which the message is stored using the refrigerator 1 will be described, but the message can also be stored using the terminal device 103 or the like.

In the refrigerator 1, when storing a message, a message storage screen is displayed on the display unit 45 as shown as an example in FIG. 7. On this message storage screen, along with a message such as "Leave a message", destination icons M1 to M4, content icons M11 to M14 ("contact", "reply required", "foodstuff", "others"), save format icon M15 to M17 (“audio”, “video”, “character”) are displayed.

The person who leaves the message selects the person who is the target of the message. Specifically, a target person is selected by touch-operating any of the destination icons M1 to M4. When selecting two or more people, each icon may be touch-operated. Subsequently, the content (classification) of the message is selected by touching any of the content icons M11 to M14. Specifically, "contact" is a so-called voice memo, and is selected when leaving a small message.

"Reply required" is selected when leaving a message asking for an answer after listening to the message. When this "reply required" is selected, the notification of the presence or absence of a message is as shown in FIG. 8 as an example. FIG. 8 is a notification screen for notifying the presence or absence of a message, indicating that "Dad" has one message, a telephone icon M18 is displayed, and the content of the message is "Reply required". It is shown that there is. This allows Dad to know that he is being asked for some kind of reply just by looking at this screen. In other words, the refrigerator 1 promotes communication by displaying the telephone icon M18. Since there is only one message in FIG. 8, the incidental information is displayed in the information display area M10.

The telephone icon M18 also functions as an operation button for executing the telephone function. Specifically, when the telephone icon M18 is touch-operated, the image pickup camera 21, the microphone 22, and the speaker 23 are driven, and a so-called videophone call can be made with the sender "grandmother". When the other party has only a telephone function, the microphone 22 and the speaker 23 are driven, and a general voice call is made.

The “foodstuff” is selected when leaving a message regarding the above-mentioned meal such as a midnight snack or the foodstuff stored in the refrigerator 1. That is, the "things related to foodstuffs" described in the claims include not only the foodstuffs themselves such as vegetables and meat, but also information on meals. "Other" is selected when leaving a message of another classification. The classifications set in these content icons M11 to M14 may be set in advance by the manufacturer, or may be arbitrarily set by the user.

Then, by touching any of the save format icons M15 to M17, the save format of the message is selected. In this case, if "voice" is selected, the voice input from the microphone 22 is stored as a message. If "video" is selected, the image input from the image pickup camera 21 and the voice input from the microphone 22 are stored as messages. When "character" is selected, for example, a software keyboard, a handwriting pad, or the like is displayed on the display unit 45, and the input sentence (text) is stored as a message.

At this time, the stored message is stored in the server 104 instead of the refrigerator 1. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the refrigerator 1 with a large-capacity storage means. In addition to the message, the address, contents, storage format, etc. are also stored as incidental information in association with the message. If the device has a display unit such as a terminal device 103 such as a smartphone, the message can be stored by the same procedure. Further, if the terminal device is not equipped with cameras, the storage format can be set to audio only in advance. That is, the storage format of the message may be selected according to the device used for leaving the message.
In this way, the refrigerator 1 is performing the presence / absence of a message and the reproduction of the message.
According to the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment described above, the following effects are obtained.

The refrigerator 1 includes a person detecting means for detecting a person and a notifying means for notifying the presence or absence of a message, and when a person is detected by the person detecting means, the refrigerator 1 notifies the presence or absence of a message. That is, in the refrigerator 1, the presence / absence of a message is notified regardless of the operation of a person. Therefore, when a person is not detected, the presence or absence of a message is not notified, so that unnecessary notification is not performed, and when a person is not detected, the refrigerator 1 can be put into a so-called standby state. Electricity can be achieved.

Further, even if the person does not perform the operation of confirming the presence or absence of the message, the presence or absence of the message is notified at the timing when the person is detected, so that the burden is not imposed. In addition, since the presence or absence of the message is notified before the message is played, the message for other people is not played by mistake, and it does not make you feel annoyed.

Furthermore, since the refrigerator 1 is often installed on the live activity line in general households, it is possible to check the presence or absence of a message in daily life without having the consciousness of checking the message. , Convenience is improved.

In the refrigerator 1, the message is stored outside the server 104, that is, the refrigerator 1. When the storage format of the message is video, it is expected that the amount of data will be large, but by storing the message outside the refrigerator 1, it is not necessary to provide the refrigerator 1 with a large-capacity storage means. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost.

Since the notification means is composed of display output means such as the display unit 45, the message can be left not only by voice but also by video. Therefore, closer communication can be taken. Of course, since the voice output means such as the speaker 23 is also configured as the notification means, a voice memo can be left.

Since the human sensor 17 detects a person approaching the refrigerator 1 in a non-contact manner, it is possible to notify the presence or absence of a message when a person approaches, that is, before opening the door of the refrigerator 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the door of the refrigerator 1 from being opened unnecessarily even though it is not necessary to open the door.

Since it is possible to set the time when the operation for the refrigerator 1 is performed as the notification timing, it is possible to notify the presence or absence of a message when a person is surely in front of the refrigerator 1, and the notification of the presence or absence of a message itself is not transmitted. Can be prevented.

Since the time when the door of the refrigerator 1 is opened can be set as the notification timing, it is possible to give advice when opening the door and selecting the stored foodstuff.

Since the notification timing can be set after the door of the refrigerator 1 is opened and then closed, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a message is notified when the door is opened and the message is confirmed while the door is left open. ..

Since the message is stored in association with the target person and the incidental information that can identify the content thereof, it is possible to identify who is the target person of the message. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, by notifying the target person that there is a message, the target person can surely reproduce the message, and the message addressed to another person is unnecessarily reproduced. You can prevent things like that.

When it is specified that the content of the message is related to the foodstuff, the presence or absence of the message is notified at the timing before the door of the refrigerator 1 is opened, so that unnecessary opening and closing of the door is prevented. As a result, the temperature inside the refrigerator 1 is prevented from changing, which leads to energy saving.

When the content of the message is to request a reply, the communication by a videophone or the like can be promoted by displaying the telephone icon M18. That is, it is possible to make a call with the other party who left a message simply by operating the telephone icon M18 without performing complicated operations. As a result, even when the refrigerator 1 is operated by an elderly person, for example, a call can be easily made. In addition, since it is possible to make a call by videophone, more direct and close communication can be performed.

As shown in the notification process of FIG. 5, the refrigerator 1 performs a notification operation for notifying the presence or absence of a message when there is a message, but does not perform the notification operation itself when there is no message, so that unnecessary power is generated. It can suppress consumption.
(Second Embodiment)

The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the notification timing is set according to the incidental information. Since the structure of the refrigerator is the same as that of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
In the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the notification timing for notifying the presence / absence of a message is set based on the incidental information, specifically, for example, according to the content of the message and the destination.

When the message is classified as "foodstuff", it may be desirable that the notification timing is when the motion sensor 17 detects that a person is approaching, that is, before the door of the refrigerator 1 is opened. This is because, for example, when a dad's midnight snack is prepared outside the refrigerator 1 such as a microwave oven or a cupboard, the location of the midnight snack can be found by listening to the message without opening the refrigerator 1, so the refrigerator 1 is wasted. There is no need to open and close. However, in the case of a configuration in which the message is stored in the external server 104, the message that is originally intended to be transmitted to "before the door is opened" cannot be transmitted to "before the door is opened" because it takes a long time to communicate with the server 104. Is assumed.

Further, when the message classification is "contact", it may be desirable that the notification timing is when the door of any storage room is closed after the door is opened. This is because if the door of the refrigerator 1 is closed, the operation on the refrigerator 1 is completed (after taking out the ingredients, etc.), so it takes time to check the message, and the message is sent with the door open. This is because it is possible to prevent confirmation.
In other words, depending on the content of the message and the destination, it may be desired to change the timing of notification.

Therefore, in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the notification timing is set according to the content of the message as shown in FIG. 9, and the notification timing is set according to the person to be the message as shown in FIG. To do. Each will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 9, the refrigerator 1 first confirms with the server 104 whether or not there is a message (B1). At this time, the refrigerator 1 repeatedly executes the timing setting process at predetermined periods such as every hour or at a predetermined time. That is, the refrigerator 1 periodically executes the timing setting process. Then, if there is a message, it is determined whether the content is related to the foodstuff (B2), and if it is a foodstuff (B2: YES), the notification timing is set to "before the door is opened", that is, the refrigerator. Set before the door of 1 is released. If the content of the message is not a food ingredient (B2: NO), the process ends without changing the timing.

At this time, the refrigerator 1 stores in the RAM of the main control unit 30 and the control unit 40 that the content of the message is the food material and that the notification timing is "before the door is opened". This is because the amount of data of the information indicating the presence / absence of a message and the information regarding the setting of the notification timing is considered to be small. When the notification timing is set, the refrigerator 1 performs a notification operation when the notification timing is reached, as in step A1 of the notification process shown in FIG. 5 described above. In this case, since the presence or absence of the message has already been confirmed, the processes of steps A2 and A3 performed in the notification process of FIG. 5 can be omitted.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, the refrigerator 1 confirms the presence or absence of a message (C1), and if the destination is "mother" (C2: YES), the notification timing is "after the door is closed", that is, the door is closed. Set after closing (C3).

As described above, the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment sets and changes the notification timing based on the incidental information. This makes it possible to notify the presence or absence of a message at an appropriate timing. In addition, convenience is improved by setting / changing the notification timing for each message content.

Further, by storing the presence / absence of a message and the notification timing by oneself (that is, in the refrigerator 1), the presence / absence of a message can be immediately notified. For example, if you want to send a message "before the door is opened", if you ask the server 104 for the presence or absence of a message after detecting a person, the communication will take time, and the door will already open when you notify the presence or absence of the message. It is possible that it has been released. Therefore, by storing the presence or absence of a message on the refrigerator 1 side, it becomes possible to notify the presence or absence of a message promptly and at an appropriate timing.

Of course, the refrigerator 1 can individually set the notification timing for the contents such as "contact" and "reply required". Further, the processing based on the content shown in FIG. 9 and the processing based on the destination shown in FIG. 10 may be combined, and the notification timing may be set individually according to the “destination” + “content”. That is, if it is based on the incidental information, the combination of the incidental information is arbitrary.
(Other embodiments)

The present invention is not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiments, and can be modified or extended as follows. In addition, some or all of the modified examples and extended examples shown below can be arbitrarily combined.

As shown in FIG. 12, the display terminal 20 may employ a portable terminal device 60 that can be attached to and detached from the refrigerator 1. The mobile terminal device 60 includes a terminal-side camera 61 (which constitutes a person detection means and a communication means), a terminal-side microphone 62 (which constitutes a communication means), a terminal-side speaker 63 (which constitutes a notification means), and a terminal-side display. A unit 64 (constituting a notification means), a terminal-side control unit 65 (constituting a person detecting means and a notification means), a terminal-side communication unit 66 (constituting a communication means), and the like are provided. The mobile terminal device 60 is always provided in a detachable state on the right door 3b of the refrigerator 1, but can also be removed from the refrigerator 1. Although not shown, the mobile terminal device 60 is attached to the refrigerator 1 by short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wired communication such as the USB standard. It also has a short-range communication means for communicating between them.

The mobile terminal device 60 can communicate with the server 104 via the network 102, for example, in the living room or on the go, confirm the presence or absence of a message, and reproduce the message. That is, as the display terminal 20, a mobile terminal device 60 such as a so-called tablet-type personal computer, smartphone, or mobile phone can be adopted. Of course, a message can be left from the mobile terminal device 60. In this case, instead of providing the refrigerator 1 with the image pickup camera 21, the microphone 22, and the like as in each embodiment, the refrigerator 1 may be configured to take an image with the terminal side camera 61 and input the sound with the terminal side microphone 62. .. In this case, if the mobile terminal device 60 can be charged from the refrigerator 1 when the mobile terminal device 60 is attached to the refrigerator 1, the risk of running out of the battery can be reduced and the charging is not confirmed. It will be better and the convenience will be improved.

Since the refrigerator 1 of each embodiment employs a wireless communication method as a communication means, the wireless access point 101 is used, but of course, a wired communication method may be adopted.

An example of exchanging a message with the refrigerator 1 alone or the terminal device 103 has been shown, but a message may be exchanged with a personal computer or a device owned by a resident in the house 105, or via a network 102. A message may be exchanged with the refrigerator 1 of another connected house.

In the notification process shown in FIG. 5, step A3 may be omitted. That is, even when there is no message, a notification operation for notifying the presence or absence of a message may be performed. This is because if the user knows that the refrigerator 1 has a function of notifying a message, it may be determined that the refrigerator 1 has failed if the notifying operation is not performed. In this case, it is possible to notify that there is no message by graying out all the destinations as in the icons of "mother" and "brother" in FIG. More preferably, it is preferable that it is possible to set whether or not to perform the notification operation when there is no message, and the configuration can be set by the user.

The motion sensor 17 may be configured by, for example, an illuminance sensor, and indirectly detect a person, such as determining that a person exists when the illuminance outside the refrigerator exceeds a predetermined reference value.

The configuration may be such that the person to be messaged can be identified. Then, the notification timing may be set according to the target person. Further, if the identified person is not the target person, the notification operation may not be performed. That is, the notification timing may be set arbitrarily based on the incidental information, and may be combined in any way. In this case, if a plurality of timings that can be set as notification timings are provided and the user can select which timing to use, the convenience can be further improved.

The time may be adopted as incidental information. In this case, for example, the presence or absence of a message is not notified during breakfast, and the notification timing can be set according to the time, which further improves convenience.

The position and number of each sensor and the mounting method are not limited to those illustrated in each embodiment. For example, it is conceivable to make the orientation of the image pickup camera 21 variable, to enable imaging of a wide range of the entire room installed by using a wide-angle lens, to provide a plurality of image pickup cameras 21 and the like.
In each embodiment, an example in which the main control unit 30 and the control unit 40 are provided is shown, but one of them may be provided and each process may be executed by one control means.

Although the wireless access point 101 is provided individually in each embodiment, the wireless access point 101 may be integrated into the refrigerator 1. By providing the refrigerator 1 that is constantly supplied with power with a function as an access point, it is possible to avoid the possibility that the power of the access point is accidentally turned off. That is, the refrigerator 1 may be provided with a function as an access point for the home network.

Further, when the above-mentioned mobile terminal device 60 is provided, the mobile terminal device 60 may be used as an access point. In this case, the refrigerator 1 can be directly connected to the network 102 without going through a router or an access point in the house, for example, a function of connecting to a mobile communication network such as a 3G communication function, or a so-called wide area wireless LAN ( It may have a function of connecting to WiMAX (registered trademark) or the like. That is, the communication means provided in the refrigerator 1 includes not only the communication function with the wireless access point 101 shown in each embodiment but also the communication function capable of directly connecting to the external network 102. ..

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

In the drawing, 1 is a refrigerator, 16 is an operation panel (human detection means), 17 is a motion sensor (human detection means), 18a is a left door touch sensor (human detection means), and 18b is a right door touch sensor (human detection means). ), 20 is a display terminal (notification means, display output means, communication means), 21 is an imaging camera (human detection means), 22 is a microphone (communication means), 23 is a speaker (notification means, voice output means), and 30 is. Main control unit (human detection means), 35a is a cold room left door sensor (human detection means), 35b is a cold room right door sensor (human detection means), 36 is a vegetable room door sensor (human detection means), 37 is ice making. Room door sensor (human detection means), 38 is the upper freezer room door sensor (human detection means), 39 is the lower freezer room door sensor (human detection means), 40 is the control unit (notification means, communication means), 45 is the display. Unit (notification means, display output means), 47 is a communication unit (communication means), 60 is a portable terminal device (notification means, display output means, communication means), 61 is a terminal side camera (human detection means), 62 is a terminal. Side microphone (communication means), 63 is terminal side speaker (notification means, voice output means), 64 is terminal side display unit (notification means, display output means), 65 is terminal side control unit (notification means, communication means), 66 indicates a terminal-side communication unit (communication means), and 104 indicates a server (external device).

Claims (8)

Notification means for notifying the presence or absence of a message ,
Equipped with a person detection means to detect people,
The message is stored in association with incidental information that can identify the target person.
Before Symbol human detecting means, which detects a person approaching the refrigerator, or, which detects that the operation for the refrigerator has been performed,
Based on the incidental information, the notification means notifies the person to be messaged of the presence or absence of a message regardless of the user's operation even when the refrigerator door is closed. A refrigerator that notifies the presence or absence of a message before the door of the refrigerator is opened when it is specified that the contents of are related to foodstuffs. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the message notified by the notification means is stored outside the refrigerator. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notification means is composed of a display output means for displaying a message. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the notification means is composed of a voice output means that outputs a message by voice. Before SL informing means, when a person is detected by the person detecting unit, refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 4 for notifying the existence of message. Before Symbol human detection means is adapted to detect a person approaching the refrigerator in a non-contact,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when it is detected that a person approaches the refrigerator, the notification means notifies the presence or absence of a message. Further equipped with a communication means capable of two-way communication with an external device,
The message is stored in association with incidental information that can identify the content.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the notification means specifies the content of a message based on the incidental information, and when the specified content requests a reply, the refrigerator prompts communication by the communication means. .. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the notification means performs a notification operation for notifying the presence or absence of a message when there is a message, and does not perform the notification operation itself when there is no message.

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