A refrigeration system 1a includes a refrigerated compartment 2 for storing perishable goods; a refrigeration unit 10 operably coupled to the refrigerated compartment 2; a plurality of sensors including an internal temperature sensor 4 configured to determine a temperature of the refrigerated compartment 2, and a weight sensor 5a configured to determine a weight of the goods located within the refrigerated compartment 2; and a controller 20 configured to: receive data from the plurality of sensors; determine a thermal inertia parameter of the goods located within the refrigerated compartment 2 based upon the temperature of the refrigerated compartment 2 and the weight of the goods; and adjust a mode of operation of the refrigeration unit 10 in accordance with the thermal inertia parameter of the goods.

A refrigerator is an example of a storage cabinet, and includes a door sensor, a weight sensor, a wireless tag reader, a memory, and a microcomputer. The microcomputer identifies an ID that is not readable by the wireless tag reader after a timing at which a weight increase is detected by the weight sensor in a first period, as an ID of a newly loaded food item, the first period being a period from when a door is opened to when the door is closed that is determined based on a result of detection performed by the door sensor, and adds the identified ID to registration information that is stored in the memory.

A method for verifying an alarm condition in an environmental sensing system includes monitoring data received from environmental sensors; detecting anomalous data received from one of the plurality of environmental sensors; determining the context in which the anomalous data was acquired is consistent with typical usage activities; and providing an alarm condition alert when the determined context is not consistent with typical activities. A system for intelligently monitoring environmental conditions includes environmental sensors configured to monitor first and second environmental conditions and to communicate with an intelligent analysis module. The intelligent analysis module is configured with logic to determine whether anomalous data has been collected by the environmental sensors, to determine the context in which the anomalous data was collected, to determine whether the anomalous data can be attributed to a routine activity, and to provide an alarm condition if the anomalous data cannot be attributed to a routine activity.

A system includes a door sensor that provides a status of whether a door of a refrigeration system is open or closed, a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of a food compartment of the refrigeration system, a power sensor that measures an amount of power consumed by the refrigeration system, and a compressor sensor that provides acoustic data about a compressor of the refrigeration system. The system further includes a remote computing system configured to send an alert indicating that the refrigeration system needs servicing when the temperature of the food compartment of the refrigeration system is determined to be above a predetermined temperature while: the door of the refrigeration system is closed, the amount of power consumed by the refrigeration system is within a predetermined power range, and acoustic signals of the compressor of the refrigeration system are within a predetermined acoustic range.

A refrigerator includes: a cabinet; a door rotatably connected to the cabinet by a hinge; and a door opening device for opening the door. The door opening device includes a driving motor and a push member configured to move in the forward/backward direction. The push member includes a first end portion positioned close to the front surface of the cabinet and a second end portion positioned on the opposite side of the first end portion. The cabinet includes a cabinet side wall positioned close to the hinge. The door includes a door side wall positioned close to the hinge. When the door is closed, the horizontal distance between the first end portion and the cabinet side wall or the door side wall is smaller than the horizontal distance between the second end portion and the cabinet side wall or the door side wall.

A refrigerator may include a cabinet, and a drawer provided with a front panel and a storage bin provided at a rear of the front panel, the front panel being provided so that the open front portion of the storage chamber is opened and closed, and the storage bin being received in a storage chamber. The refrigerator may also include a deodorizing case including an upper end part provided on an inner surface of the storage bin, and a lower end part provided on an outer surface of the storage bin. Additionally, a deodorizing member provided in an inner part of the deodorizing case to remove an odor of the storage chamber.

A railcar backup cooling system may be added to an existing railcar (e.g., a boxcar) to provide supplemental or backup cooling to the railcar in the event that an HVAC failure or other circumstance occurs, which causes the interior temperature of the railcar to rise. The system includes a container of liquid or compressed gas mounted on the railcar, a valve controlling the flow of the liquid or gas from the container, and a controller configured to open the valve when the HVAC system fails or is otherwise unable to maintain the railcar at the desired temperature. When the valve is opened, the liquid and/or gas stored in the container may exit, expanding into a cool gas and thereby acting to cool the railcar environment.

A smart mini bar system and method are provided for identification of products in a mini bar, determining number of the products and tracking thereof.

An indication device for a refrigerator includes an indicator light or a plurality of indicator lights indicating synchronously, a first detection unit configured to detect an object activity situation around the refrigerator, a second detection unit configured to detect an open/closed state of at least one door body of the refrigerator, and a processor. The processor is communicatively connected to the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the indicator light to be adapted to control the indicator light to indicate a first state or a second state, according to detection results of the first detection unit and the second detection unit. The first state is different than the second state. A corresponding refrigerator includes a number of indicative elements and related indication states on a surface of a refrigerator panel which are simplified, but ensure sufficient coverage of various sensing functions and improve user satisfaction.

A home appliance includes a refrigerator including a panel assembly. The panel assembly includes: a first panel formed of a glass material; a second panel spaced apart from the first panel and formed of a glass material; a plurality of spacers provided between the first panel and the second panel so as to maintain a gap between the first panel and the second panel, and arranged to be spaced apart from each other; a sealing member disposed between the first panel and the second panel for sealing a space between the first panel and the second panel; an exhaust hole provided in at least one of the first panel and the second panel so as to discharge air such that the space between the first panel and the second panel becomes a vacuum insulation space; and a cover member covering the exhaust hole.