Thermoelectric-Based Refrigerator Apparatuses

• US 20080022696A1
• Filed: 07/26/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Inventors: Welle, Richard P., Janson, Siegfried W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,861,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.7
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0212 of electric power, current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/06 Damage
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature

Abstract

A refrigerator apparatus includes a housing with an interior chamber, thermoelectric devices that are thermally coupled to the interior chamber, and dual redundant electronics configured to generate and apply input power to the thermoelectric devices.

Claims

1. A refrigerator apparatus comprising:

a housing with an interior chamber;

thermoelectric devices that are thermally coupled to the interior chamber; and

dual redundant electronics configured to generate and apply input power to the thermoelectric devices.

2. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dual redundant electronics are configured to maintain for each of the thermoelectric devices a functional relationship between the input power and a temperature measurement.

3. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 2, wherein the functional relationship includes a proportional relationship between the input power and the temperature measurement.

4. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 2, wherein the input power is adjusted to maintain the functional relationship when the temperature measurement falls outside a range of acceptable temperatures for a substance stored within the interior chamber.

5. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 2, wherein the input power is adjusted to maintain the functional relationship when the temperature measurement falls inside a range of acceptable temperatures for a substance stored within the interior chamber.

6. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 2, wherein the input power is held substantially constant when the temperature measurement falls inside a range of acceptable temperatures for a substance stored within the interior chamber.

7. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 2, wherein no input power is applied when the temperature measurement falls inside a range of acceptable temperatures for a substance stored within the interior chamber.

8. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 2, wherein the dual redundant electronics are configured to apply the input power to cause the thermoelectric devices to heat the interior chamber only when the temperature measurement indicates a dangerously cold condition for a substance stored in the interior chamber.

9. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 2, wherein the dual redundant electronics are configured to apply the input power to cause the thermoelectric devices to cool the interior chamber at a maximum available cooling rate of the thermoelectric device only when the temperature measurement indicates a dangerously hot condition for a substance stored in the interior chamber.

10. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dual redundant electronics include dual microcontrollers each configured for direct connection to a battery without the use of a voltage regulator.

11. A refrigerator apparatus comprising:

a housing with an interior chamber;

a thermoelectric device that is thermally coupled to the interior chamber;

a temperature sensing device that is thermally coupled to the interior chamber, the temperature sensing device providing a temperature measurement;

an indicator device; and

electronics configured to generate and apply input power to the thermoelectric device, the electronics being configured to monitor the temperature measurement, compare the temperature measurement to a range of acceptable temperatures for a substance stored within the interior chamber, and to control the indicator device to provide an indication of exposure to an unacceptable temperature when the temperature measurement is outside the range of acceptable temperatures.

12. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indicator device is a display.

13. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indicator device is a light.

14. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indicator device is a speaker.

15. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronics are configured to track the temperature measurement over time.

16. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronics are configured to provide the indication when the temperature measurement has been outside the range of acceptable temperatures for an unacceptable amount of time for the substance.

17. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronics are configured to apply the input power depending upon an expected lifetime of the substance.

18. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronics include a communications interface.

19. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 18, wherein the communications interface is wireless.

20. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 18, wherein the communications interface facilitates a radio connection.

21. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 18, wherein the communications interface is wired.

22. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 18, wherein the communications interface includes a USB port.

23. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electronics are configured to draw power from the communications interface.

24. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electronics are configured to receive data via the communications interface.

25. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electronics are configured to receive control inputs via the communications interface.

26. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 11, wherein the interior chamber is configured to provide a data input to the electronics that identifies the substance.

27. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 11, wherein the interior chamber is complementary in shape to a container in which the substance is stored.

28. A refrigerator apparatus comprising:

a housing with an interior chamber;

a thermoelectric device that is thermally coupled to the interior chamber; and

electronics configured to generate and apply input power to the thermoelectric device, the electronics including a microcontroller configured for direct connection to a battery without the use of a voltage regulator.

29. A refrigerator apparatus comprising:

a housing with an interior chamber;

an aerogel insulator within the housing;

a thermoelectric device that is thermally coupled to the interior chamber; and

electronics configured to generate and apply input power to the thermoelectric device.

30. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 29, wherein the aerogel insulator is molded.

31. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 29, wherein the aerogel insulator includes layers of aerogel fabric.

32. The refrigerator apparatus of claim 29, wherein the aerogel insulator is under a vacuum.