# US 11,122,203 B1 · Refrigerator camera modules and methods for preventing lens fog > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,203 B1 - Document ID: US11122203B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/882,820 - Filed: 2020-05-26 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-26 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Goodman Schroeder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122203B1 ## CPC - H04N 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes - F25D 21/04: Preventing the formation of frost or condensate - F25D 23/028: {Details} - F25D 29/00: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - F25D 29/005: {Mounting of control devices} - H04N 5/77: between a recording apparatus and a television camera - H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast - H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source} - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices - F25D 2700/02: Sensors detecting door opening - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract Refrigerator appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a camera module, and a controller. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber. The door may be rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The camera module may be mounted to the cabinet within the chilled chamber. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine including initiating a continuous anti-fog capture sequence at the camera module, receiving a static image signal from the camera module during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence, or discarding the received static image signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a refrigerator appliance comprising a camera module mounted within a chilled chamber, the method comprising: initiating a continuous anti-fog capture sequence at the camera module; receiving a static image signal from the camera module during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence; discarding the received static image signal; alternating to an open-door capture sequence from the continuous anti-fog capture sequence at the camera module; and recording an image signal from the camera module during the open-door capture sequence, wherein the open-door capture sequence has a sample rate greater than a sample rate of the anti-fog capture sequence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sample rate of the anti-fog capture sequence is between 1 and 25 frames per second. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sample rate of the open-door capture is greater than or equal to 30 frames per second. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving an open signal from a door switch in selective communication with a door of the refrigerator appliance, wherein alternating to the open-door capture sequence is in response to receiving the open signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting an elevated image value in the received static image signal, wherein alternating to the open-door capture sequence is in response to detecting the elevated image value in the received static image signal during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a pair of sequential image signals from the camera module during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence; and detecting a change in pixels between the pair of sequential image signals, wherein alternating to the open-door capture sequence is in response to detecting the change in pixels between the pair of sequential image signals during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the camera module is received within a camera enclosure comprising a front wall defining an aperture along a line of sight of the camera module, and wherein the front wall is spaced apart from the camera module. ### Claim 8 A method of operating a refrigerator appliance comprising a camera module mounted within a chilled chamber, the method comprising: initiating a continuous anti-fog capture sequence at the camera module; receiving a static image signal from the camera module during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence; discarding the received static image signal; alternating to an open-door capture sequence from the continuous anti-fog capture sequence at the camera module; recording an image signal from the camera module during the open-door capture sequence; and detecting an elevated image value in the received static image signal, wherein alternating to the open-door capture sequence is in response to detecting the elevated image value in the received static image signal during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the anti-fog capture sequence has a sample rate of between 1 and 25 frames per second. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein a sample rate of the open-door capture is greater than or equal to 30 frames per second. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving an open signal from a door switch in selective communication with a door of the refrigerator appliance, wherein alternating to the open-door capture sequence is in response to receiving the open signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving a pair of sequential image signals from the camera module during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence; and detecting a change in pixels between the pair of sequential image signals, wherein alternating to the open-door capture sequence is in response to detecting the change in pixels between the pair of sequential image signals during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the camera module is received within a camera enclosure comprising a front wall defining an aperture along a line of sight of the camera module, and wherein the front wall is spaced apart from the camera module. ### Claim 14 A method of operating a refrigerator appliance comprising a camera module mounted within a chilled chamber, the method comprising: initiating a continuous anti-fog capture sequence at the camera module; receiving a static image signal from the camera module during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence; discarding the received static image signal; alternating to an open-door capture sequence from the continuous anti-fog capture sequence at the camera module; and recording an image signal from the camera module during the open-door capture sequence; receiving a pair of sequential image signals from the camera module during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence; and detecting a change in pixels between the pair of sequential image signals, wherein alternating to the open-door capture sequence is in response to detecting the change in pixels between the pair of sequential image signals during the continuous anti-fog capture sequence. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the anti-fog capture sequence has a sample rate of between 1 and 25 frames per second. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a sample rate of the open-door capture is greater than or equal to 30 frames per second. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving an open signal from a door switch in selective communication with a door of the refrigerator appliance, wherein alternating to the open-door capture sequence is in response to receiving the open signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the camera module is received within a camera enclosure comprising a front wall defining an aperture along a line of sight of the camera module, and wherein the front wall is spaced apart from the camera module.