A detection system for estimating a weight of one or more items in a refrigerator is disclosed. The system comprises at least one shelf; at least one transducer configured to transmit a sonic or ultrasonic wave into the at least one shelf and capture the reflected or refracted wave from the shelf; and a processor configured to estimate the weight of the one or more items on the shelf from the sonic or ultrasonic wave received from the at least one transducer. The system further comprises a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of the one or more items on the shelf. The cameras are configured to capture images of the items while on the shelf and off the shelf, which are then used to identify the items and the changes in weight of those items. Items may be automatically reorder based on their weight or change in weight.

A refrigerator appliance includes walls, a door, an ice container, a magnet, and a sensor. The walls define an internal storage chamber. The door has an outer panel and a door liner disposed between the outer panel and the internal storage chamber. The door liner defines a receptacle. The ice container is removably positioned within the receptacle. The magnet is secured to the ice container. The sensor is disposed between the outer panel and the door liner. The sensor is configured to align with and detect a presence of the magnet through the door liner and to detect an absence of the magnet. The presence of the magnet is indicative that the ice container is positioned within the receptacle. The absence of the magnet is indicative that the ice container is not positioned within the receptacle.

A remote system for monitoring and controlling one or more devices for use in the cryogenic processing of a sample is provided. A remote server capable of transmitting freezing profile data to one or more freezers, transmitting transportation profile data to one or more transportation devices, and transmitting thawing profile data to one or more thawing devices. The remote server is also capable of receiving detected data from the one or more freezers relating to the freezing of a sample in accordance with the freezing profile data, receiving detected data from the one or more transportation devices relating to the transportation of a sample in accordance with the transportation profile data, and receiving detected data from the one or more thawing machines relating to the thawing of a sample in accordance with the thawing profile data.

A non-freezing meat fresh-preservation control method, a controller and a refrigerator are provided. The non-freezing meat fresh-preservation control method comprises: S1 (101), acquiring a current temperature of meat food in a compartment of a refrigerator in real time; S2 (102), judging whether the current temperature of the meat food is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold t.sub.0, and if yes, performing S3 (103); S3 (103), controlling the compartment to perform a cooling operation; S4 (104), judging whether the meat food is frozen during the cooling operation, and if yes, performing S5 (105), S5 (105), controlling the compartment to perform a heating operation; and continuing the performance of the S1 (101) after the performance of the S5 (105) is completed. The non-freezing meat fresh-preservation control method provided by the present disclosure may prolong the fresh-preservation period as much as possible while ensuring that the meat food is not frozen.

A refrigerator configured to detect excessive condensation in a condenser based on a temperature difference between evaporators provided in each storage compartment, and configured to control an operating time of a heat dissipation fan configured to cool the condenser, and a control method thereof are provided. The refrigerator includes a plurality of storage compartments, a plurality of evaporators arranged in series with each other and provided to correspond to each of the plurality of storage compartments, a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant evaporated by the plurality of evaporators, a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant, a heat dissipation fan configured to cool the condenser, a plurality of evaporator temperature sensors configured to detect a temperature of each of the plurality of evaporators, and a controller configured to determine whether excessive condensation occurs in the condenser based on a temperature difference between the plurality of evaporators, and configured to control an operating time of the heat dissipation fan based on whether the excessive condensation occurs or not.

A refrigerating appliance includes a cabinet having an inner liner that defines at least one aperture for accessing a refrigerating compartment. A door is operably coupled to the cabinet and is operable between open and closed positions. A plurality of storage surfaces is positioned within the refrigerating compartment. Each storage surface is adapted to receive at least one temporarily stored item. A scanning apparatus is adapted to record data related to the storage surfaces and the at least one temporarily stored item. The scanning apparatus conducts first and second data capturing phases. The secondary data recorded during the second data capturing phase is compared against previous data recorded during the first data capturing phase to create a current inventory manifest. The current inventory manifest is compared with a set of predetermined parameters related to the at least one temporarily stored item to selectively provide an output.

A refrigerating appliance includes a cabinet having an inner liner that defines at least one aperture for accessing a refrigerating compartment. A door is operably coupled to the cabinet and is operable between open and closed positions. A plurality of storage surfaces is positioned within the refrigerating compartment. Each storage surface is adapted to receive at least one temporarily stored item. A scanning apparatus is adapted to record data related to the storage surfaces and the at least one temporarily stored item. The scanning apparatus conducts first and second data capturing phases. The secondary data recorded during the second data capturing phase is compared against previous data recorded during the first data capturing phase to create a current inventory manifest. The current inventory manifest is compared with a set of predetermined parameters related to the at least one temporarily stored item to selectively provide an output.

A refrigerator according to the present embodiment comprises: a cabinet comprising a storage chamber; and a door for opening and closing the storage chamber. The door comprises: a main door comprising an opening and a door storage unit; a sub-door that opens and closes the opening and can rotate about a hinge with respect to the main door; a first camera and a second camera that are provided spaced apart from each other in the sub-door, and capture images of the door storage unit in a state where the sub-door is open; a marker provided on the main door and image-captured by the first camera; and a display unit for displaying result images including at least a portion of images captured by the first and second cameras.

Disclosed are a refrigerator, and a method for processing food information in a refrigerator. While a food editing interface is displayed, a voice recognition interface is displayed for rapidly entering into a voice detection state and then carrying out timely detection of voice input from a user.

Disclosed are a refrigerator, and a method for processing food information in a refrigerator. While a food editing interface is displayed, a voice recognition interface is displayed for rapidly entering into a voice detection state and then carrying out timely detection of voice input from a user.