Abstract: A method of controlling a refrigerator includes instructing at least one camera to capture images forward of a main body opening of a main body of the refrigerator of items being placed into or removed from at least one storage compartment. The images are analyzed to determine whether the images contain an object of interest. The method further includes assigning a direction of movement for the object of interest being at least one of into or out of the storage compartment. An inventory for the storage compartment is updated based on the object of interest and the direction of movement for the object of interest. Instructions are then provided to at least one environmental control device. The instructions control the environmental control device to change a storage condition within the storage compartment based on the inventory in the storage compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body, a door, at least one camera mounted to the main body and/or the door and at least one computing device. The camera(s) is/are positioned to have a field of view that includes an entrance opening leading to a storage compartment and an interior side of the door when the door is open. The camera(s) is/are configured to capture images of an item being loaded into or being removed from the storage compartment. The computing device(s) can instruct the camera(s) to capture the images, analyze the captured images and determine whether the images contain an object of interest. The computing device(s) can assign a sensed door angle and an object location to images containing the object of interest. The computing device(s) can assign a direction of movement for the object of interest based on the sensed door angle and changes in the object location.

Abstract: A refrigerator system includes a main body and a door mounted to and movable with respect to the main body, an ambient light sensor, a light source, at least one camera positioned to have a field of view that includes an entrance opening leading to the at least one storage compartment, and at least one computing device in operable connection with the at least one camera, the ambient light sensor, and the light source.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body, a door, at least one camera mounted to the main body and/or the door and at least one computing device. The camera(s) is/are positioned to have a field of view that includes an entrance opening leading to a storage compartment and an interior side of the door when the door is open. The camera(s) is/are configured to capture images of an item being loaded into or being removed from the storage compartment. The computing device(s) can instruct the camera(s) to capture the images, analyze the captured images and determine whether the images contain an object of interest. The computing device(s) can assign a sensed door angle and an object location to images containing the object of interest. The computing device(s) can assign a direction of movement for the object of interest based on the sensed door angle and changes in the object location.

Abstract: A refrigerator system includes a main body, at least one camera and at least one computing device in operable connection with the camera(s). The camera(s) is/are positioned to have a field of view that includes an entrance opening leading to a storage compartment(s) and is/are configured to capture images of an item being loaded into or being removed from the storage compartment(s). The computing device(s) is/are configured to instruct the camera(s) to capture the images, to analyze the captured images and generate a bounding box around an object of interest in the captured images that contain the object of interest, and to assign a direction of movement for the object of interest being at least one of into, out of or internally within the refrigerated enclosure. The direction of movement is assigned based on changes in size of the bounding box around the object of interest among the analyzed images.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a plurality of storage compartments within a refrigerated enclosure, a plurality of cameras mounted a main body or a door, and at least one computing device. The at least one computing device is configured to assign a direction to determine if an item is moving into, out of or internally within the refrigerated enclosure.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a plurality of storage compartments within a refrigerated enclosure, a plurality of cameras mounted a main body or a door, and at least one computing device. The at least one computing device is configured to assign a direction to determine if an item is moving into, out of or internally within the refrigerated enclosure.

Abstract: A Live Inventory System and Process for use with an active object storage structure, such as a refrigerator. The disclosed System and Process includes a method for dynamically identifying an object being placed in or taken out of a refrigerator, the method comprising: detecting a motion of an object at the refrigerator using one or more sensors coupled with the refrigerator or sensing a refrigerator open condition; acquiring one or more images of at least a part of the object as the object is being placed inside the refrigerator or removed from the refrigerator; and using the acquired images, tracking the motion of the object, determining a direction of the motion of the object, and identifying the object using a trained ML (Machine Learning) model, the ML model trained, at least in part, using a crowd-based training method including acquisition of images from other refrigerators.