Deployable temperature controlled shed with remote management

• US 10,222,119 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2016
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mohsen Rezayat
• Original Assignee: Mohsen Rezayat
• Inventors: Rezayat, Mohsen
• Primary Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US15/203,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20170146287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/002 using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 13/00 Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 13/04 the compartments being at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/008 Alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37431 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/32 in combination with an identity check
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/06 Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/32 specially adapted for solar tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/966 Powered by renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A cold-shed may be deployed in areas with little or no electrical infrastructure in order to provide a cold storage area for perishable goods including agricultural, dairy products, medicines, vaccines, etc. A wireless communication device may be installed in the cold-shed to allow remote management, access control, and monitoring of the cold-shed devices, including cooling units, solar power cells, batteries, power conditioners, and a variety of sensors to determine internal and external temperatures, door positions, and other information. A mobile device configured to communicate with the wireless communication device may receive information and updates via cellular networks or text messaging. The mobile device may also be used to change temperature settings, lock and unlock doors, conduct inventory management and auditing, and make other changes. The corresponding application allows an owner to manage and monitor many cold-sheds from a single mobile device.

Claims

1. A monitored shed comprising:

a. a primary storage area comprising a general storage area and a first storage zone, wherein the first storage zone is a sealed compartment that is contained within the primary storage area, and the general storage area is an open space within the primary storage area;

b. a temperature change device operable to influence the temperature within the primary storage area, wherein;

(i) the temperature change device is a primary cooling device,

(ii) the temperature change device is operable to primarily influence the temperature within the primary storage area, and

(iii) the primary cooling device is configured to vent heat to an exterior of the primary storage area;

c. a set of sensors, the set of sensors comprising a temperature sensor configured to generate a set of temperature data associated with the primary storage area;

d. a power system, the power system comprising a set of solar cells and a set of batteries, the power system configured to provide power to at least the temperature change device and the set of sensors, wherein the power system is configured to generate a set of power data, the set of power data comprising a power generation associated with the set of solar cells, a battery charge associated with the set of batteries, and a power consumption; and

e. a control unit comprising a memory, a processor, and a wireless communication device;

f. the first storage zone comprising a second temperature change device, wherein;

(i) the second temperature change device is a thermoelectric cooling device,

(ii) the second temperature change device is operable to primarily influence the temperature within the first storage zone, and

(iii) the thermoelectric cooling device is configured to exchange thermal energy with the interior of the general storage area;

wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions to cause the control unit to;

i. receive the set of temperature data and the set of power data;

ii. determine a temperature report for the primary storage area based upon the set of temperature data;

iii. determine a power report for the power system based upon the set of power data;

iv. provide the temperature report and the power report to a user device via the wireless communication device;

v. receive a general storage goal temperature and a first storage zone goal temperature from the user device; and

vi. configure the temperature change device to influence the temperature within the primary storage area based upon the general storage goal temperature, and configure the second temperature change device to influence the temperature within the first storage zone based upon the first storage zone goal temperature.

2. The monitored shed of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions to cause the control unit to:

a. receive a temperature alarm range from the user device; and

b. where the set of temperature data indicates that the temperature of the primary storage area falls outside of the temperature alarm range, provide a temperature alarm report to the user device.

3. The monitored shed of claim 1, wherein the primary cooling device is one of an evaporative cooling device, a vapor-compression cooling device, or an absorption refrigeration cooling device, and wherein:

a. the temperature change device is configured to operate intermittently and reduce the temperature of the primary storage area to the general storage goal temperature;

b. the second temperature change device is configured to operate continuously and increase or reduce temperature to maintain the temperature of the first storage zone at the first storage zone goal temperature; and

c. the thermoelectric cooling device is configured to;

(i) require less power from the power system than the primary cooling device, such that the power system may operate the thermoelectric cooling device when the power system has insufficient power available to operate the primary cooling device, and

(ii) automatically dehumidify the first storage zone when reducing the temperature of the first storage zone.

4. The monitor shed of claim 1, further comprising an inventory management input device, wherein the set of sensors further comprises a first storage zone temperature sensor, wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions to:

a. receive an inventory identifier via the inventory management input device;

b. associate the inventory identifier with the first storage zone; and

c. associate a set of first storage zone temperature data with the inventory identifier, wherein the set of first storage zone temperature data indicates one or more temperatures of the first storage zone for the period of time that the inventory identifier is associated with the first storage zone.

5. The monitored shed of claim 4, wherein the second temperature change device is configured to only receive power via the set of solar cells, and wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions to:

a. determine, based upon at least the inventory identifier, an ideal storage temperature range and a non-ideal storage time limit associated with the inventory identifier, wherein the non-ideal storage time limit indicates a period of time at which an item associated with the inventory identifier may be stored outside of the ideal storage temperature range;

b. determine a non-ideal storage time based upon the set of first storage zone temperature data, wherein the non-ideal storage time indicates a period of time during which the inventory identifier was associated with the first storage zone and the first storage zone temperature fell outside of the ideal storage temperature range;

c. provide an inventory report to the user device, wherein the inventory report comprises the non-ideal storage time and the non-ideal storage time limit; and

d. prevent access to the first storage zone for at least one user when ambient temperatures outside of the monitored shed would result in an increase of non-ideal storage time for the inventory identifier if the first storage zone were accessed.

6. A method for monitoring a shed comprising the steps:

a. receiving, at a control unit comprising a memory, a processor, and a wireless communication device, a general storage goal temperature and a first storage zone goal temperature from a user device;

b. configuring a temperature change device to influence the temperature within a primary storage area based upon the general storage goal temperature, and configuring a second temperature change device to influence the temperature within a first storage zone based upon the first storage zone goal temperature;

c. receiving a set of temperature data generated by a temperature sensor, the set of temperature data indicating the temperature within the primary storage area;

d. receiving a set of power data generated by a power system, the power system comprising a set of solar cells and a set of batteries, the set of power data comprising a power generation associated with the set of solar cells, a battery charge associated with the set of batteries, and a power consumption;

e. determining;

i. a temperature report for the primary storage area based upon the set of temperature data; and

ii. a power report for the power system based upon the set of power data; and

f. providing the temperature report and the power report to the user device via the wireless communication device;

wherein;

(A) the primary storage area comprises the first storage zone that is a sealed compartment contained within the primary storage area, and a general storage area that is an open space within the primary storage area;

(B) the temperature change device is a primary cooling device that is operable to primarily influence the temperature within the primary storage area, and that is configured to vent heat to an exterior of the primary storage area;

(C) the first storage zone comprises the second temperature change device that is a thermoelectric cooling device, and that is operable to primarily influence the temperature within the first storage zone, and that is configured to exchange thermal energy with the interior of the general storage area;

(D) the temperature change device is operable to reduce the temperature of the primary storage area and the first storage zone to the general storage goal temperature; and

(E) the second temperature change device is operable to increase or reduce temperature to maintain the temperature of the first storage zone at the first storage zone goal temperature d.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps:

a. receiving a temperature alarm range from the user device; and

b. where the set of temperature data indicates that the temperature of the primary storage area falls outside of the temperature alarm range, providing a temperature alarm report to the user device.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps:

a. receiving a battery alarm range from the user device; and

b. where the set of power data indicates that the battery charge falls outside of the battery alarm range, provide a battery alarm report to the user device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps:

a. determining that one or more of the power generation and the battery charge are insufficient based upon the power consumption;

b. activating a secondary power source automatically and without human intervention, wherein the secondary power source is configured to provide power to the power system, and wherein the secondary power source is selectively operable; and

c. preventing access to one or more of the primary storage area and the first storage zone while the secondary power source is activated.