US 12,149,677 B2
Refrigerator camera modules and methods for addressing persistent conditions on the camera lens
Michael Goodman Schroeder, Louisville, KY (US); and Stephanos Kyriacou, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/705,642.
Prior Publication US 2023/0308632 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 7/18 (2006.01); F25D 11/00 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); H04N 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 17/002 (2013.01) [F25D 11/00 (2013.01); G06T 7/0002 (2013.01); H04N 7/188 (2013.01); F25D 2400/36 (2013.01); F25D 2700/02 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30168 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:
a cabinet defining a chilled chamber;
a door being rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber;
a camera module mounted to the cabinet within the chilled chamber; and
a controller operably coupled to the camera module, the controller being configured to initiate an operation routine comprising
initiating an anti-fog capture sequence,
receiving one or more images for each of a plurality of capture sequences,
detecting a pervasive obfuscation condition at the camera module based on the received one or more images and the anti-fog capture sequence, detecting the pervasive obfuscation condition following the anti-fog capture sequence, and
directing a responsive action on the refrigerator appliance in response to detecting the pervasive obfuscation condition.