Refrigeration system management and information display

• US 8,537,018 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bair, Richard H. III, Brown, Michael W., Davies, Norman P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees, Edny
• Application Number:
  US12/797,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20110304466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 340/585, 340/815.4, 340/500, 340/501, 621/26, 621/25, 62/40, 622/31, 622/32
• US Class Current: 340/585
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/04 specially adapted for storing deep-frozen articles F25D11/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/123 more than one sensor measuring the inside temperature in a compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/14 Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/008 Alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide methods of displaying information associated with a refrigeration system, methods for managing a refrigeration system, refrigeration systems, methods of providing redundancy to a refrigeration system, and injector systems. A refrigeration system and method for displaying information associated with a refrigeration system includes monitoring a temperature associated with the refrigeration system, detecting events associated with the refrigeration system, and displaying the temperature and at least one event associated with the refrigeration system occurring during a predetermined period of time, including displaying the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time and displaying a user interface element associated with at least one event occurring during the predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information associated with a refrigeration system, comprising:

monitoring a temperature associated with the refrigeration system;

detecting events associated with the refrigeration system;

displaying the temperature and at least one event associated with the refrigeration system occurring during a predetermined period of time, wherein the step of displaying the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time comprises displaying the temperature on a line graph that indicates a change in the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time; and

displaying at least one detected event associated with the refrigeration system occurring during the predetermined period of time, wherein the step of displaying the at least one detected event occurring during the predetermined period of time comprises displaying a user interface element associated with the at least one detected event at a respective time on the line graph corresponding to an occurrence of the at least one detected event occurring, with the user interface element being displayed separately from the line graph.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the line graph includes an indication of a predetermined high temperature threshold associated with the refrigeration system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the line graph includes an indication of a predetermined low temperature threshold associated with the refrigeration system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the line graph includes an indication of a set temperature associated with the refrigeration system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the predetermined amount of time, wherein adjusting the predetermined amount of time adjusts the predetermined amount of time displayed by the line graph.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

in response to adjusting the predetermined amount of time displayed by the line graph, removing the user interface element associated with the at least one detected event.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating the current temperature associated with the refrigeration system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element is a user-selectable user interface element, the method further comprising:

in response to selection of the user interface element, displaying information associated with the at least one detected event.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information includes data selected from the group consisting of a date the at least one detected event occurred, a time that the at least one detected event occurred, a duration of the at least one detected event, a time when the refrigeration system recovered from the at least one detected event, a rise in temperature associated with the at least one detected event, a high temperature associated with the at least one detected event, a user associated with the at least one detected event, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a second user interface element that indicates a state of the refrigeration system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second user interface element is a user-selectable user interface element, the method further comprising:

in response to selection of the second user interface element, displaying information associated with the state of the refrigeration system.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to detecting an abnormal state associated with at least a portion of the refrigeration system, adjusting a graphical indicia associated with the second user interface element.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the user interface element associated with the at least one detected event includes:

indicating a duration of the at least one detected event.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time and the at least one detected event occurring during the predetermined period of time are displayed on a touchscreen display of the refrigeration system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time and the at least one detected event occurring during the predetermined period of time are displayed on a display separate from the refrigeration system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one detected event includes an event selected from the group consisting of a power on event, a power off event, a power failure event, a power restored event, a door open event, a door closed event, a component failure event, an injection procedure event, a user interface locked event, a user interface unlocked event, a user management event, a service event, a connectivity event, a low temperature event, a high temperature event, a set temperature reached event, a user identification entered event, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a second user interface element, wherein the second user interface element is a user selectable element; and

in response to selection of the second user interface element, storing data associated with the temperature and at least one detected event occurring during the predetermined period of time in a file in a memory of the refrigeration system.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element comprises an icon.

19. A refrigeration system, comprising:

a refrigerated cabinet;

at least one processing unit;

a user interface;

and a memory containing program code, the program code configured to, when executed by the at least one processing unit, monitor a temperature associated with the refrigeration system, detect events associated with the refrigeration system, display the temperature and at least one event associated with the refrigeration system occurring during a predetermined period of time on the user interface, wherein the step of displaying the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time comprises displaying the temperature on a line graph that indicates a change in the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time, and display at least one detected event associated with the refrigeration system occurring during the predetermined period of time, wherein the step of displaying the at least one detected event occurring during the predetermined period of time comprises displaying a user interface element associated with the at least one detected event at a respective time on the line graph corresponding to an occurrence of the at least one detected event, with the user interface element being displayed separately from the line graph.

20. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the line graph includes an indication of a predetermined high temperature threshold associated with the refrigeration system.

21. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the line graph includes an indication of a predetermined low temperature threshold associated with the refrigeration system.

22. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the line graph includes an indication of a set temperature associated with the refrigeration system.

23. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the program code is further configured to adjust the predetermined amount of time, wherein adjusting the predetermined amount of time adjusts the predetermined amount of time displayed by the line graph.

24. The refrigeration system of claim 23, wherein the program code is further configured to remove the user interface element associated with the at least one detected event in response to adjusting the predetermined amount of time displayed by the line graph.

25. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the program code is further configured to indicate the current temperature associated with the refrigeration system.

26. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the user interface element is a user-selectable element, and wherein the program code is further configured to display information associated with the at least one detected event in response to selection of the user interface element.

27. The refrigeration system of claim 26, wherein the information includes data selected from the group consisting of a date the at least one detected event occurred, a time that the at least one detected event occurred, a duration of the at least one detected event, a time when the refrigeration system recovered from the at least one detected event, a rise in temperature associated with the at least one detected event, a high temperature associated with the at least one detected event, a user associated with the at least one detected event, and combinations thereof.

28. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the program code is further configured to display a second user interface element that indicates a state of the refrigeration system.

29. The refrigeration system of claim 28, wherein the second user interface element is a user-selectable element, and wherein the program code is further configured to display information associated with the state of the refrigeration system in response to selection of the second user interface element.

30. The refrigeration system of claim 28, wherein the program code is further configured to adjust a graphical indicia associated with the second user interface element in response to detecting an abnormal state associated with at least a portion of the refrigeration system.

31. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the program code is further configured to indicate a duration of the at least one detected event.

32. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the user interface is a touchscreen display.

33. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the at least one detected event includes an event selected from the group consisting of a power on event, a power off event, a power failure event, a power restored event, a door open event, a door closed event, a component failure event, an injection procedure event, a user interface locked event, a user interface unlocked event, a user management event, a service event, a connectivity event, a low temperature event, a high temperature event, a set temperature reached event, a user identification entered event, and combinations thereof.

34. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the program code is further configured to display a second user interface element, wherein the second user interface element is a user selectable element, and wherein the program code is further configured to store data associated with the temperature and at least one detected event occurring during the predetermined period of time in a file in the memory of the refrigeration system in response to selection of the second user interface element.

35. The refrigeration system of claim 19, wherein the user interface element comprises an icon.

36. A method of displaying information associated with a refrigeration system on a display, comprising:

monitoring a temperature associated with the refrigeration system;

detecting events associated with the refrigeration system;

displaying the temperature associated with the refrigeration system occurring during a predetermined period of time on the display, wherein the step of displaying the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time comprises displaying the temperature on a line graph that indicates a change in the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time on the display; and

displaying at least one detected event associated with the refrigeration system occurring during the predetermined period of time, wherein the step of displaying the at least one detected event occurring during the predetermined period of time comprises displaying a user interface element associated with the at least one detected event at a variable location on the display and associated with the line graph in response to an occurrence of the at least one detected event, with the user interface element being displayed separately from the line graph.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

adjusting the predetermined amount of time, wherein adjusting the predetermined amount of time adjusts the predetermined amount of time displayed by the line graph.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the user interface element is a user-selectable user interface element, the method further comprising:

in response to selection of the user interface element, displaying information associated with the at least one detected event.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the information includes data selected from the group consisting of a date the at least one detected event occurred, a time that the at least one detected event occurred, a duration of the at least one detected event, a time when the refrigeration system recovered from the at least one detected event, a rise in temperature associated with the at least one detected event, a high temperature associated with the at least one detected event, a user associated with the at least one detected event, and combinations thereof.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time and the at least one detected event occurring during the predetermined period of time are displayed on a touchscreen display of the refrigeration system.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time and the at least one detected event occurring during the predetermined period of time are displayed on a display separate from the refrigeration system.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one detected event includes an event selected from the group consisting of a power on event, a power off event, a power failure event, a power restored event, a door open event, a door closed event, a component failure event, an injection procedure event, a user interface locked event, a user interface unlocked event, a user management event, a service event, a connectivity event, a low temperature event, a high temperature event, a set temperature reached event, a user identification entered event, and combinations thereof.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein the user interface element comprises an icon.

48. The refrigeration system of claim 42, wherein the user interface is a touchscreen display.

44. A refrigeration system, comprising:

a refrigerated cabinet;

at least one processing unit;

a user interface; and

a memory containing program code, the program code configured to, when executed by the at least one processing unit, monitor a temperature associated with the refrigeration system, detect events associated with the refrigeration system, display the temperature associated with the refrigeration system occurring during a predetermined period of time on the user interface, wherein the step of displaying the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time comprises displaying the temperature on a line graph that indicates a change in the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time on the user interface, and display at least one detected event associated with the refrigeration system occurring during the predetermined period of time, wherein the step of displaying the at least one detected event occurring during the predetermined period of time comprises displaying a user interface element associated with the at least one detected event at a variable location on the user interface and associated with the line graph in response to an occurrence of the at least one detected event, with the user interface element being displayed separately from the line graph.

45. The refrigeration system of claim 44, wherein the program code is further configured to adjust the predetermined amount of time, wherein adjusting the predetermined amount of time adjusts the predetermined amount of time displayed by the line graph.

46. The refrigeration system of claim 44, wherein the user interface element is a user-selectable element, and wherein the program code is further configured to display information associated with the at least one detected event in response to selection of the user interface element.

47. The refrigeration system of claim 46, wherein the information includes data selected from the group consisting of a date the at least one detected event occurred, a time that the at least one detected event occurred, a duration of the at least one detected event, a time when the refrigeration system recovered from the at least one detected event, a rise in temperature associated with the at least one detected event, a high temperature associated with the at least one detected event, a user associated with the at least one detected event, and combinations thereof.

49. The refrigeration system of claim 44, wherein the at least one detected event includes an event selected from the group consisting of a power on event, a power off event, a power failure event, a power restored event, a door open event, a door closed event, a component failure event, an injection procedure event, a user interface locked event, a user interface unlocked event, a user management event, a service event, a connectivity event, a low temperature event, a high temperature event, a set temperature reached event, a user identification entered event, and combinations thereof.