Electronically controlled container for storing temperature sensitive material

• US 5,603,220 A
• Filed: 09/11/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cool Med LLC
• Original Assignee: Cool Med LLC
• Inventors: Seaman, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/526,442
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 62/3.2, 62/3.6, 62/3.62, 62/3.7, 62/457.9, 136/204, 136/205
• US Class Current: 62/3.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/165 Cooled holders, e.g. for medications, insulin, blood, plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/12 Portable refrigerators

Abstract

A portable, thermally insulated container having an isothermal chamber for storing temperature sensitive material. An electronic circuit activates a heater when the temperature in the chamber is below a preselected magnitude and activates a Peltier heat pump to cool the chamber when the temperature in the chamber is above a preselected magnitude. The electronic circuit operates a fan for the intake of air into the chamber while the Peltier heat pump is operating and discontinues the operation of the fan while the heater is operating. Included in the electronic circuit are two sets of dual operational amplifiers. A temperature sensor responsive to the temperature in the chamber controls the operation of one set of dual operational amplifiers for operating the Peltier heat pump to cool the chamber and controls the operation of the other set of dual operational amplifiers to heat the chamber.

Claims

1. A container for temperature sensitive material comprising:

(a) a chamber for storing temperature sensitive material;

(b) a temperature sensor responsive to the temperature in said chamber;

(c) a cooling device for cooling said chamber;

(d) a first operational amplifier, which operates as a waveform shaper for controlling the operation of said cooling device; and

(e) a second operational amplifier responsive to said temperature sensor to control the operation of said first operational amplifier for controlling the temperature in said chamber.

2. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first operational amplifier and said second operational amplifier are connected in series as dual operational amplifiers.

3. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 2 wherein a circuit applies a reference voltage to one input of said second operational amplifier and applies a comparison voltage to another input of said second operational amplifier in response to said temperature sensor for said second operational amplifier to compare said comparison voltage and said reference voltage in the controlling of the operation of said first operational amplifier.

5. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a fan for the intake of air into said container, and circuit means interconnecting said first operational amplifier and said fan for operating said fan during the operation of said cooling device.

7. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cooling device is a Peltier heat pump.

9. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 1 and comprising:

(a) a heating device for heating said chamber;

(b) a third operational amplifier, which operates as a waveform shaper for controlling the-operation of said heating device; and

(c) a fourth operational amplifier responsive to said temperature sensor to control the operation of said third operational amplifier for controlling the temperature in said chamber.

10. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 2 and comprising:

(a) a heating device for heating said chamber;

(b) a third operational amplifier, which operates as a waveform shaper for controlling the operation of said heating device; and

(c) a fourth operational amplifier responsive to said temperature sensor to control the operation of said third operational amplifier for controlling the temperature in said chamber, said third operational amplifier and said fourth operational amplifier being connected in series as dual operational amplifiers.

4. A container for temperature sensitive material comprising:

(a) a chamber for storing temperature sensitive material;

(b) a temperature sensor responsive to the temperature in said chamber;

(c) a cooling device for cooling said chamber;

(d) a first operational amplifier for controlling the operation of said cooling device;

(e) a second operational amplifier responsive to said temperature sensor to control the operation of said first operational amplifier for controlling the temperature in said chamber;

said first operational amplifier and said second operational amplifier being connected in series as dual operational amplifiers; and

(f) a circuit applying a reference voltage to one input of said second operational amplifier and applying a comparison voltage to another input of said second operational amplifier in response to said temperature sensor for said second operational amplifier to compare said comparison voltage and said reference voltage in the controlling of the operation of said first operational amplifier, said circuit applying a reference voltage to one input of said first operational amplifier and the output of said second operational amplifier applying a comparison voltage to another input of said first operational amplifier, said first operational amplifier comparing the reference voltage and the comparison voltage applied thereto for controlling the operation of said cooling device.

6. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 4 and comprising a fan for the intake of air into said container, said circuit interconnecting said first operational amplifier and said fan for operating said fan during the operation of said cooling device.

8. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 6 wherein said cooling device is a Peltier heat pump.

12. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 6 and comprising:

(a) a heating device for heating said chamber;

(b) a third operational amplifier for controlling the operation of said heating device; and

(c) a fourth operational amplifier responsive to said temperature sensor to control the operation of said third operational amplifier for controlling the temperature in said chamber, said third operational amplifier and said fourth operational amplifier being connected in series as dual operational amplifiers;

(d) said circuit applying a reference voltage to one input of said fourth operational amplifier different in magnitude to the reference voltage applied to said second operational amplifier, said circuit applying a comparison voltage to another input of said fourth operational amplifier in response to said temperature sensor for said fourth operational amplifier to compare said comparision voltage and said reference voltage applied to said fourth operational amplifier for the controlling of the operation of said third operational amplifier; and

(e) a fan for the intake of air into said chamber, said circuit interconnecting said third operational amplifier and said fan for discontinuing the operation of said fan during the operation of said heating device.

11. A container for temperature sensitive material comprising:

(a) a chamber for storing temperature sensitive material;

(b) a temperature sensor responsive to the temperature in said chamber;

(c) a cooling device for cooling said chamber;

(d) a first operational amplifier for controlling the operation of said cooling device;

(e) a second operational amplifier responsive to said temperature sensor to control the operation of said first operational amplifier for controlling the temperature in said chamber, said first operational amplifier and said second operational amplifier being connected in series as dual operational amplifiers;

(f) a circuit applying a reference voltage to one input of said second operational amplifier and applying a comparison voltage to another input of said second operational amplifier in response to said temperature sensor for said second operational amplifier to compare said comparison voltage and said reference voltage in the controlling of the operation of said first operational amplifier;

(g) a heating device for heating said chamber;

(h) a third operational amplifier for controlling the operation of said heating device; and

(i) a fourth operational amplifier responsive to said temperature sensor to control the operation of said third operational amplifier for controlling the temperature in said chamber, said third operational amplifier and said fourth operational amplifier being connected in series as dual operational amplifiers,

(j) said circuit applying a reference voltage to one input of said fourth operational amplifier different in magnitude to the reference voltage applied to said second operational amplifier, said circuit applying a comparison voltage to another input of said fourth operational amplifier in response to said temperature sensor for said fourth operational amplifier to compare said comparision voltage and said reference voltage applied to said fourth operational amplifier for the controlling of the operation of said third operational amplifier.

13. A container for temperature sensitive material comprising:

(a) a chamber for storing temperature sensitive material;

(b) a temperature sensor responsive to the temperature in said chamber;

(c) a cooling device for cooling said chamber;

(d) a heating device for heating said chamber;

(e) a fan for the intake of air into said container; and

(f) a circuit responsive to said temperature sensor for operating said cooling device and said fan while the temperature in said chamber is above a preselected temperature range and for operating said heating device and discontinuing the operation of said fan while the temperature in said chamber is below a preselected range, said cooling device cycling on and off while said temperature in said chamber is within a predetermined range of said preselected temperature range, said circuit comprises means for providing a hysteresis action for operating said fan during the on and off cycle of said cooling device.

14. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 13 wherein said circuit comprises first dual operational amplifiers connected in cascade and responsive to said temperature sensor for operating said cooling device and for operating said fan;

and second dual operational amplifiers connected in cascade and responsive to said temperature sensor for operating said heating device and discontinuing the operation of said fan.

15. A container for temperature sensitive material comprising:

(a) a chamber for storing temperature sensitive material;

(b) a temperature sensor responsive to the temperature in said chamber;

(c) a cooling device for cooling said chamber;

(d) a heating device for heating said chamber;

(e) a fan for the intake of air into said container; and

(f) a circuit responsive to said temperature sensor for operating said cooling device and said fan while the temperature in said chamber is above a preselected temperature range and for operating said heating device and discontinuing the operation of said fan while the temperature in said chamber is below a preselected range, said cooling device cycling on and off while said temperature in said chamber is within a predetermined range of said preselected temperature ranges, said circuit comprises means for providing a hysteresis action for operating said fan during the on and off cycle of said cooling device, said circuit comprising first dual operational amplifiers connected in cascade and responsive to said temperature sensor for operating said cooling device and for operating said fan, and second dual operational amplifiers connected in cascade and responsive to said temperature sensor for operating said heating device and discontinuing the operation of said fan, the lead operational amplifier of said first dual operational amplifiers being a comparator operational amplifier and the succeeding operational amplifier of said first dual operational amplifiers being a waveform-shaper operational amplifier, the lead operational amplifier of said second dual operational amplifiers being a comparator operational amplifier and the succeeding operational amplifier of said second dual operational amplifiers being a waveform-shaper operational amplifier.

16. A container for temperature sensitive material comprising:

(a) a chamber for storing temperature sensitive material;

(b) a temperature sensor responsive to the temperature in said chamber;

(c) a cooling device for cooling said chamber;

(d) a first operational amplifier for controlling the operation of said cooling device;

(e) a second operational amplifier responsive to said temperature sensor to control the operation of said first operational amplifier for controlling the temperature in said chamber;

(f) a heating device for heating said chamber;

(g) a third operational amplifier for controlling the operation of said heating device; and

(h) a fourth operational amplifier responsive to said temperature sensor to control the operation of said third operational amplifier for controlling the temperature in said chamber;

(i) a source of power at a first preselected voltage;

(j) a fan for the intake of air into said container;

(k) a first voltage regulator connected to said source of power for providing operating power at a second preselected voltage to said first operational amplifier, said second operational amplifier, said third operational amplifier, said fourth operational amplifier and said fan; and

(l) a second voltage regulator connected to said source of power for applying a reference voltage to said first operational amplifier, said second operational amplifier, said third operational amplifier and said fourth operational amplifier,

(m) said cooling device and said heating device being connected to said source of power for the application of said first preselected voltage thereto.

17. A container for temperature sensitive material as claimed in claim 16 and comprising:

(a) a resistor interconnecting said source of power and said first voltage regulator; and

(b) means connected across said resistor and connected to said first voltage regulator for increasing current flow to said first operational amplifier, said second operational amplifier, said third operational amplifier, said fourth operational amplifier and said fan in response to a reduction in current flow thereto.