# US 2018/0324340 A1 · Refrigerators having internal content cameras, and methods of operating the same

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2018/0324340 A1
- Document ID: US20180324340A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/035,220
- Filed: 2018-07-13
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-05
- Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation
- Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation
- Inventors: Victor Henrique Sfoggia Carlotto; Michael Todd Moore; Sushanth Purandhar; Ryan Michael Post; Michael S. Richards
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324340A1

## CPC

- H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means
- F25D 29/00: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- G06F 16/51: Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
- H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
- H04N 23/51: Housings
- H04N 23/90: Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
- G02B 2027/014: {comprising information/image processing systems}
- G06F 16/587: using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
- G06T 7/0004: {Industrial image inspection}
- 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)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Example refrigerators having internal content cameras, and methods of operating the same are disclosed. A disclosed example refrigerator includes a cabinet, an internal compartment disposed within the cabinet, a closing member operatively coupled to the cabinet providing selective access to the internal compartment, two cameras disposed in the compartment and positioned to capture images of different portions of the compartment, two light sources disposed in the compartment, and a controller communicatively coupled with the cameras and light sources and configured to control the light sources to provide two different illuminations for respective ones of the two cameras.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet;
an internal compartment disposed within the cabinet;
a door operatively coupled to the cabinet providing selective access to the internal compartment;
a first camera disposed in the internal compartment and positioned to capture images within the internal compartment;
a second camera operatively coupled with the door;
a light source configured to emit light within the internal compartment;
a controller communicatively coupled with the first and second cameras and light source and configured to adjust the first and second cameras to control the intensity of the light source to provide images; and
a remote user device in communication with the controller and configured to adjust the first and second cameras and light source so that images can be captured by the first and second cameras and displayed on the remote user device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:
capture a first image using one of the first and second cameras;
start transmission of the first image to a remote server; and
after starting transmission, capture a second image using the other of the first and second cameras.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to:
control the light source to provide a first illumination in the cabinet during capture of the first image; and
control the light source to provide a second illumination different than the first illumination in the cabinet during capture of the second image.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the first and second illuminations differ in color.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the images are stored at the remote server for retrieval by the remote user device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first camera is disposed on one of a wall of the internal compartment, a shelf, and a storage bin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:
a pulse-width modulator, wherein the controller controls the pulse-width modulator to control illuminations made by the light source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the first and second cameras to capture the images after a door closure event is detected.

### Claim 9

A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet;
an internal compartment disposed within the cabinet;
a door operatively coupled to the cabinet by a door hinge and providing selective access to the internal compartment;
a camera operatively coupled with the door and positioned to capture images of different portions of the internal compartment;
a plurality of light sources disposed in the internal compartment and adjustable to provide different illuminations within the internal compartment; and
a controller disposed in the cabinet and communicatively coupled with the cameras and light sources through the door hinge.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to:
control the plurality of light sources to provide a first illumination in the cabinet during capture of a first image; and
control the plurality of light sources to provide a second illumination different than the first illumination in the cabinet during capture of a second image.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the first and second illuminations differ in color.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the images are stored at a remote server for retrieval by a remote user device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the camera is disposed on one of a wall of the internal compartment, a shelf, and a storage bin.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The refrigerator of claim 9, further comprising:
a pulse-width modulator, wherein the controller controls the pulse-width modulator to control illuminations made by the light source.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the controller controls the camera to capture the images after a door closure event is detected.

### Claim 16

A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet;
an internal compartment disposed within the cabinet;
a door operatively coupled to the cabinet by a door hinge and providing selective access to the internal compartment;
a camera operatively coupled with the door and positioned to capture images of different portions of the internal compartment;
a plurality of light sources disposed in the internal compartment and adjustable to provide different illuminations within the internal compartment; and
a controller disposed in the cabinet and communicatively coupled with the cameras and light sources through the door hinge, the controller configured to capture the images after a door closure event is detected;
an appliance control unit disposed in said refrigerator and configured to store the captured images.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to:
control the plurality of light sources to provide a first illumination in the cabinet during capture of a first image; and
control the plurality of light sources to provide a second illumination different than the first illumination in the cabinet during capture of a second image.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the appliance control unit transmits the images to a remote server for retrieval by a remote user device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the camera is disposed on one of a wall of the internal compartment, a shelf, and a storage bin.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator of claim 16, further comprising:
a pulse-width modulator, wherein the controller controls the pulse-width modulator to control illuminations made by the light source.