JP2002188882A - Food-information display and refrigerator provided with the display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display of freshness criteria, and a refrigerator provided with the display, in which a user can personally correctly determine food freshness, and prepare a safe meal by conducting an appropriate cooking. SOLUTION: Freshness in a region of food to be judged is selected on a display 3 of freshness criteria. An image for freshness criteria is graphically displayed on a display section 4, graphing order, color or touch, viable count, K value, etc., in good to bad freshness stages. Thus, the user can confirm his food freshness on the contents of the display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a food information display device for judging, for example, a freshness state of food and a refrigerator provided with the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art After a food product is shipped from a production area or a factory, it is transported to a retail store or an end user who prepares the food product via various distribution channels. At various stages of this process, many people evaluate the freshness and freshness of food from various perspectives.

[0003] In recent years, various measures have been taken to improve the freshness of home refrigerators.
It is considered that edible judgment based on mere expiration date and expiration date is not sufficient, and various freshness evaluations are required.

[0004] Also, due to changes in social circumstances, people who have rarely cooked meals, such as co-earning families, aging, living alone, and leaving home alone, are more likely to cook, and those who lack knowledge about freshness. But there is also a need to judge the freshness of ingredients.

[0005] In recent years, with the spread of the Internet and mobile phones, all generations are accustomed to the operation for information processing, and the number of refrigerators displaying information such as the internal temperature on the door surface is increasing.

As a conventional food information display device for displaying a food freshness state, there has been proposed a device which displays freshness using near-infrared rays as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-15251.

This food information display device utilizes a lipid-containing lipid membrane, and bacteria that grow in foodstuffs are transferred to the pigment-containing lipid membrane portion in correlation with the number of the bacteria, and the lipid membrane is determined according to the number of bacteria. Decompose. When the lipid membrane is decomposed, the color of the filter changes from the color of the dye to the color of the filter due to the color of the dye, and this is quantified using near-infrared light, that is, the freshness of the food is visualized and displayed. .

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, it is difficult to use repeatedly because of the use of an irreversible reaction, and the freshness of a wide variety of foods having different bacterial species, ingredients, and shapes is sensed. There are still many issues to be solved, and commercialization is difficult.

[0009] In daily life, we are often worried about the freshness of food. In particular, we often find a criterion for putting food in and out of a refrigerator. First, a criterion for the edible limit of whether or not it can be eaten is required. Next, the judgment on the food, such as whether heating is needed or not, is determined until the food is used for cooking. However, the conventional invention has a drawback in that it takes time for analysis and the like, and the display content lacks information that the user actually wants.

Furthermore, in recent years, all kinds of foods, from raw materials to semi-finished products and finished products, from cereals, vegetables and fruits to meat and seafood, are imported and transported in various forms,
Our eating environment is becoming more and more complex. Regarding imported foods, safety and hygiene issues are regarded as problems, but the criteria for determining the freshness of foods that are unfamiliar to cooking are increasingly unclear, and disadvantages such as that conventional inventions cannot solve problems other than bacterial counts. there were.

[0011] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and displays a sample of a freshness judgment standard of a food and its state so that the user can confirm the freshness with his own eyes, and purchase or use of foodstuffs with confidence. It is an object of the present invention to provide a food information display device that can be used and a refrigerator including the device.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is to display an image of a food sample according to freshness conditions, and to display an image of a food sample according to freshness judgment criteria, thereby realizing an actual food sample. This has the effect that anyone can easily judge the freshness of the food visually when judging the freshness of the food.

The invention according to claim 2 has an arithmetic control unit for inputting an output signal of the freshness condition input means, and a storage unit connected to the arithmetic control unit for storing image information of a food sample,
The arithmetic control unit inputs an output signal from the freshness condition input means and extracts image information corresponding to the freshness condition from the storage unit.By inputting the freshness condition, a food sample having a desired freshness condition is obtained. Since images can be displayed,
It has the effect that freshness of the food can be accurately determined.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the image of the food sample is an appearance of the food, and the user can see the freshness with his own eyes. You can easily check it while comparing it with the sample.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the image of the food sample is an appearance of the food and an image obtained by enlarging the appearance, and the images are switched and displayed. The sample of the freshness determination standard can be displayed from various angles, and the freshness of the food can be accurately determined.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the image of the food sample is an image of the appearance of the food and a cross section of the food, and these images are switched and displayed. The user can confirm freshness in multiple aspects with high accuracy while comparing the freshness with the sample.

[0017] The invention according to claim 6 is to display an image of a food sample according to the freshness condition and to display the criterion information of the freshness condition. A feeling of judgment is obtained.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the sixth aspect, the criterion information for judging freshness conditions is at least one of food smell, food color, and food touch. The sample and the state of the freshness determination can be selectively displayed from the statistical sensory evaluation data to determine the freshness of the food.

The invention according to claim 8 is to display an image of a food sample corresponding to the freshness condition and to display edible limit information of the freshness condition, so that the user can eat the food. You can tell at a glance whether or not.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the eighth aspect, the edible limit information of the freshness condition is at least one of the number of viable bacteria of the food and the K value of the food. The user can understand physicochemically whether the food can be eaten together with the freshness of the food.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, an image of a food sample is selected stepwise from a condition of good freshness to a condition of bad freshness. The user can check the freshness stepwise while comparing the freshness with the sample.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, an image of a food sample is displayed for each part of the food. The freshness of food can be confirmed not only by type but also by site.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a food sample according to the freshness condition is displayed as an image, and a cooking recipe according to the freshness condition is displayed. You can eat it deliciously.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator in which a food information display device for displaying a food sample image according to freshness conditions is detachably provided. Can easily determine freshness.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a refrigerator provided with a food information display device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a freshness judgment criterion display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the embodiment, and FIG.
4 to 7 are enlarged perspective views of the freshness determination reference display device, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a home refrigerator provided with the freshness determination reference display device.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a home refrigerator,
A plurality of storage rooms (not shown) are provided in the storage. 2
Is a door of the refrigerator 1 and is provided at an opening of a storage room in the refrigerator 1 so as to be openable and closable. Reference numeral 3 denotes a food information display device that displays a food sample according to freshness, and is detachably attached to the surface of the door 2.

The food information display device 3 comprises a display unit 4, an input unit 5, and a control unit 10. The control unit 10
An arithmetic control unit 11 having a microcomputer 12 and an LCD driver (liquid crystal display element driving means) 13, and a temporary storage unit (RA) connected to the arithmetic control unit 11, respectively.
M), and storage means 14 having a storage section (ROM) 16.

The arithmetic and control unit 11 displays, in the food information display device 3, a question as to what food group is to be stored, what is the food name, what is the part, etc., and inputs a signal from the input unit 5. And store the food name and site in the storage means 14,
The food information display device 3 displays a sample of a freshness state, a physicochemical evaluation such as a viable cell count, a K value, and a recommended recipe for each portion of the food.

The display unit 4 connected to the output terminal of the operation control unit 11 of the control unit 10 is formed of an LCD (liquid crystal display element), and receives a drive signal from the LCD driver 13 of the operation control unit 11. , Food group input, food name input, site name input, sample of freshness state and viable cell count, physicochemical evaluation such as K value,
Each operation mode such as a recommended recipe is displayed in characters or images.

The input unit 5 connected to the input terminal of the arithmetic and control unit 11 of the control unit 10 selects and cancels a food group, a food name, a site, and a freshness mode. A selection key 6 for selecting an operation mode, which is an input mode when inputting an image, a switching key 7 for switching an image display setting to an external view, an enlarged view, and a sectional view, and a sample of freshness of food are displayed. A decision key 8 is a decision mode when the process shifts to a processing routine to be performed, and a cancel key 9 is a cancellation mode when the content already input is canceled.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a food group selection means, which is realized by the selection key 6 when the display unit 4 is displaying the food group selection screen, as will be described later. When a food group whose freshness is to be determined is selected from "potatoes and beans", "vegetables", "fruits", "fishes", "meats", "eggs" and "dairy products", a selection signal is sent to the arithmetic control unit 11. Output.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a food name selection means, which is realized by the selection key 6 when the display unit 4 is displaying the food name selection screen, as will be described later. "," Beef "," pork "," chicken "," sheep "," whale meat "," rabbit ",
When a food name whose freshness is to be determined is selected from “frog” and “processed product”, a selection signal is output to the arithmetic and control unit 11.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a part selection means, which is realized by the selection key 6 when the display unit 4 is displaying the part selection screen as will be described later. The part of the food whose freshness is to be determined, for example, a food group If "meat" is selected as the food and "beef" is selected as the food name, "sirloin", "loin", "neck", "kata", "hara", "sun",
When a part whose freshness is to be determined is selected from “Uramomo” and “Sotomomo”, a selection signal is output to the arithmetic and control unit 11.

Reference numeral 25 denotes an image condition switching means,
Is displayed by the switching key 7 when the food sample is displayed, and switches the image of the “appearance”, “section”, and “enlargement” of the food whose freshness is to be determined. 26 is a freshness condition switching means, when the display unit 4 is displaying a food sample,
This is realized by the selection key 6, and the freshness condition “good”,
The display of the display unit 4 is switched to the image of the food sample in each of the “normal” and “evil” states.

The display unit 4 is an image display unit 1 for displaying an image of a food sample, when classified from the display content in terms of function.
7. A K value graph display section 18 and a viable cell count graph display section 19 for displaying the K value and viable cell count, respectively, which are one of the physicochemical data, the food smell, the food color, the food feel or the cooking recipe. It comprises a comment display section 20 to be displayed, and an input menu display section 21 for displaying an input menu of the selection key 6 and the switching key 7.

The operation of the refrigerator provided with the food information display device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, a case where beef sirloin steak is taken out of a refrigerator and freshness is determined will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, mode selection is performed. When the enter key 8 is pressed from among the select key 6, the switching key 7, the enter key 8, and the cancel key 9 (S1), an input mode start signal is input to the microcomputer 12 of the arithmetic control unit 11, and the microcomputer 12 A predetermined message stored in the storage unit (ROM) 16 is read in advance (S2), and is displayed via the LCD driver 13 of the arithmetic control unit 11 on the display unit (L).
CD) 4 is driven, and the display unit 4 displays a food group selection screen as shown in FIG. 3 (S3).

That is, a food group whose freshness is to be determined is asked, and as selection options, the selection key number "1" is "cereals", the selection key number "2" is "potatoes and beans", and the selection key number is "2". Key 6 number “3” is “vegetable”, select key 6
No. "4" is "Fruit", number "5" of selection key 6 is "Fish", number "6" of selection key 6 is "meat", number "7" of selection key 6 is "egg", selection It indicates that the number “8” of the key 6 is “dairy product”.

Then, it is determined whether or not the selection key 6 is pressed (S4). If there is no key input, the food group selection screen is kept displayed. If there is a key input, the image data of the food group selection screen is temporarily stored. It is stored in the unit 15 (S5). Here, a case where the number “6” of the selection key 6 is pressed and “meat” is selected as a food group will be described.

A signal corresponding to the number "6" of the selection key 6 is output to the microcomputer 12, and the microcomputer 12 converts the image data corresponding to "meat" stored in the storage unit (ROM) 16 in advance. Read (S
6) As shown in FIG. 4, a food name selection screen is displayed on the display unit 4 via the LCD driver 13 of the arithmetic control unit 11 (S7).

That is, the user is asked the name of the food whose freshness is to be determined, and the selection key 6
Number "1" is "beef", number "2" of selection key 6 is "pork", number "3" of selection key 6 is "chicken", number "4" of selection key 6 is "lamb" and selected Key 6 number "5"
Is "whale meat", selection key 6 number "6" is "rabbit", selection key 6 number "7" is "frog", selection key 6 number "8"
Indicates that each corresponds to a "processed product".

Then, it is determined whether or not the selection key 6 has been pressed (S8). If there is a key input, the image data of the food name selection screen is stored in the temporary storage unit 15 (S9). Here, a case will be described in which the number “1” of the selection key 6 is pressed and “beef” is selected as the food name.

A signal corresponding to the number “1” of the selection key 6 is output to the microcomputer 12, and the microcomputer 12 converts the image data corresponding to “beef” stored in the storage unit (ROM) 16 in advance. Read (S1
0), as shown in FIG. 6, a part selection screen is displayed on the display unit 4 via the LCD driver 13 of the arithmetic control unit 11 (S11).

If there is no key input in S8, it is next determined whether or not there is a key input of the cancel key 9 (S12). Here, if there is no key input, the food name selection screen continues to be displayed, and if there is a key input, the temporary storage unit (RA
M) The image data of the food group selection screen stored in 15 is read (S13), and the process returns to S3 to display the food group selection screen.

In S11, the user is asked for the name of the part of "beef" whose freshness is to be determined, and as selection candidates, the number "1" of the selection key 6 is "sirloin" and the number "2" of the selection key 6 is selected. Is "Loin", number "3" of selection key 6 is "neck", number "4" of selection key 6 is "kata", number "5" of selection key 6 is "hara", selection key 6
The number “6” is “Sune”, the number “7” of the selection key 6 is “Uramomo”, and the number “8” of the selection key 6 is “Sotomomo”.
To indicate that each corresponds.

Then, it is determined whether or not the selection key 6 has been pressed (S14). If there is a key input, the image data of the region selection screen is stored in the temporary storage unit 15 (S15). Here, a case where the number “1” of the selection key 6 is pressed and “Sirloin” is selected as the part will be described.

A signal corresponding to the number "1" of the selection key 6 is output to the microcomputer 12, and the microcomputer 12 outputs image data corresponding to "sirloin" stored in the storage unit (ROM) 16 in advance. Reading (S16), as shown in FIG.
Through the D driver 13, a food sample showing the normal appearance and the appearance of "sirloin" is displayed on the display unit 4 (S1).
7).

If there is no key input in S14, it is next determined whether or not there is a key input of the cancel key 9 (S18). Here, if there is no key input, the site selection screen is kept displayed, and if there is a key input, the temporary storage unit (RA
M) The image data of the food name selection screen stored in 15 is read (S19), and the process returns to S7 to display the food name selection screen.

At S 17, a sample of the freshness state of the selected food part is displayed in the area of the image display section 17 of the display section 4. Further, the number of viable bacteria and the K value under the freshness condition are displayed in the areas of the graph display sections 18 and 19 of the display section 4 (S
20). Further, a comment on the state of the smell, color or tactile sensation of the food under the freshness condition is displayed in the comment display section 20 area of the display section 4 (S21). Display unit 4
The input menu of the switching key 7 and the selection key 6 is displayed in the input menu display area 21 (S22).

Then, in S23, it is determined whether or not the switching key 7 has been pressed. Here, if there is a key input, the image data of the current screen is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit (RAM) 1.
5 (S24), and reads out from the storage unit (ROM) 16 the image data corresponding to the "cross-section" representing the cross-section of the food item selected by "B" of the switching key 7, for example (S25).
A food sample whose freshness condition is “normal” or “cross-section” is displayed in the area of the image display unit 17 of the display unit 4 (S26), and returns to S20 to display a graph of the number of viable bacteria and the K value. Similarly, switch key 7
In the case of "A", an external view of the food is displayed, and in the case of "C" of the switching key 7, an enlarged view of the cross section of the food is displayed.

In the initial state, the freshness condition is set to normal, and the image display setting is set to external appearance corresponding to the external view. However, by pressing the number "8" or the number "7" of the selection key 6, the freshness condition is changed from "Pu" to the food having a good freshness condition, and if the number "2" or the number "3" of the selection key 6 is pressed, Images can be freely switched from good freshness conditions to bad freshness conditions.

That is, when the number "7" of the selection key 6 is pressed (S27), a signal corresponding to the number "7" of the selection key 6 is input to the microcomputer 12. Then, the microcomputer 12 stores the image data of the current screen in the temporary storage unit (RAM) 15 (S28), and reads out the image data corresponding to the selected freshness condition being bad from the storage unit (ROM) 16. (S29), display a food sample of poor freshness condition on the display unit 4 via the LCD driver 13 (S30), and return to S20 to display a graph of viable cell count and K value.

In step S27, if the key input of "3" to "7" is not performed, and if the number "5" of the selection key 6 is pressed instead, the portion of the food selected as the criterion of the freshness is determined. And a cooking recipe according to the freshness can be displayed. That is, if the number “5” of the selection key 6 is pressed, a selection signal of the number “5” of the selection key 6 is input to the microcomputer 12 and the microcomputer 12
Represents a cooking recipe corresponding to the ingredients and freshness conditions,
Display on the display unit 4 via the CD driver 13 (S3
2). This cooking recipe display continues until the cancel key 9 is pressed (S33).

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the freshness of the sirloin steak taken out of the refrigerator can be easily checked, and a cooking recipe matching the freshness state can be searched.

[0057]

As described above, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is to display an image of a food sample according to the freshness condition, so that the user can easily check the freshness of the food while comparing the sample with the sample. You can check.

The invention according to claim 2 has an arithmetic control unit for inputting an output signal of the freshness condition input means, and a storage unit connected to the arithmetic control unit for storing image information of a food sample,
The arithmetic control unit inputs an output signal from the freshness condition input means and extracts image information corresponding to the freshness condition from the storage unit.By inputting the freshness condition, a food sample having a desired freshness condition is obtained. Since images can be displayed,
The freshness of the food can be accurately determined.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the image of the food sample is an appearance of the food, and the user can see the freshness with his own eyes. You can easily check it while comparing it with the sample.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the food sample image is an appearance of the food and an image obtained by enlarging the appearance, and these images are switched and displayed. The sample of the freshness determination standard can be displayed from various angles, and the freshness of the food can be accurately determined.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the image of the food sample is an image of the appearance of the food and a cross section of the food, and these images are switched and displayed. The user can confirm freshness in multiple aspects with high accuracy while comparing the freshness with the sample.

[0062] The invention according to claim 6 is to display an image of a food sample according to the freshness condition and to display the criterion information for judging the freshness condition. A feeling of judgment is obtained.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the sixth aspect, the criterion information for determining the freshness condition is at least one of food smell, food color, and food feel. The sample and the state of the freshness determination can be selectively displayed from the statistical sensory evaluation data to determine the freshness of the food.

The invention according to claim 8 is for displaying an image of a food sample corresponding to the freshness condition and displaying edible limit information of the freshness condition, so that the user can eat the food. You can tell at a glance whether or not.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the eighth aspect, the edible limit information of the freshness condition is at least one of the number of viable bacteria of the food and the K value of the food. The user can understand physicochemically whether the food can be eaten together with the freshness of the food.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the image of the food sample is selected stepwise from good freshness to bad freshness. The user can check the freshness stepwise while comparing the freshness with the sample.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, an image of a food sample is displayed for each part of the food. The freshness of food can be confirmed not only by type but also by site.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a food sample according to the freshness condition is displayed as an image, and a cooking recipe according to the freshness condition is displayed. You can eat it deliciously.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator in which a food information display device for displaying a food sample image according to freshness conditions is detachably provided. Can easily determine freshness.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of a food information display device according to the present invention.
Functional block diagram of

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the food information display device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the food information display device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the display unit of the food information display device according to the embodiment displays a food group selection display screen.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view showing a state where the display unit of the food information display device according to the embodiment is displaying a food name selection display screen;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary perspective view showing a state where the display unit of the food information display device according to the embodiment displays a site selection display screen;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary perspective view showing a state where the display unit of the food information display device according to the embodiment displays a food sample display screen;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a household refrigerator to which the food information display device of the embodiment is attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 3 Food information display device 4 Display part 17 Image display part

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A food information display device for displaying an image of a food sample according to a freshness condition. 2. An arithmetic control unit for inputting an output signal of a freshness condition input unit, and a storage unit connected to the arithmetic control unit for storing image information of a food sample, wherein the arithmetic control unit includes:
A food information display device, wherein an output signal from the freshness condition input means is input, and image information corresponding to the freshness condition is extracted from the storage unit. 3. The food information display device according to claim 1, wherein the image of the food sample is the appearance of the food. 4. The food information display device according to claim 1, wherein the food sample image is an appearance of the food and an image obtained by enlarging the appearance, and the images are switched and displayed. 5. The food information display device according to claim 1, wherein the image of the food sample is an image of the appearance of the food and a cross section of the food, and the images are switched and displayed. 6. A food information display device for displaying an image of a food sample according to a freshness condition and displaying criterion information of the freshness condition. 7. The food information display device according to claim 6, wherein the criterion information for determining the freshness condition is at least one of food smell, food color, and food tactile sensation. 8. A food information display device for displaying an image of a food sample according to a freshness condition and displaying edible limit information under the freshness condition. 9. The edible limit information of the freshness condition is at least one of the number of viable bacteria of the food and the K value of the food.
A food information display device according to claim 1. 10. The food information display device according to claim 1, wherein an image of a food sample can be selected stepwise from a condition with good freshness to a condition with poor freshness. 11. The food information display device according to claim 1, wherein an image of a food sample is displayed for each part of the food. 12. A food information display device for displaying a food sample according to a freshness condition as an image and displaying a cooking recipe under the freshness condition. 13. A refrigerator having a detachable food information display device for displaying an image of a food sample according to a freshness condition.