Apparatus and method for transporting temperature sensitive materials

Abstract

A refrigeration unit system is disclosed. The system can comprise a system housing having a front panel, a back panel, two side panels, a bottom panel, a bezel having an air exhaust. The system can further comprise a plurality of air intake slots and a carrying handle above the air exhaust. The system can further comprise an assembly having a cold chamber central to the assembly. The assembly can comprise a thermoelectric module affixed to the chamber in direct contact. The thermoelectric module can be configured for conduction of a heat away from the cold chamber. The cold chamber can comprise a shelf removable from the cold chamber.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration unit system comprising:
 a system housing having a front panel, a back panel, two side panels, a bottom panel, and a bezel having an air exhaust;   a plurality of air intake slots;   an assembly having a cold chamber central to the assembly, the assembly comprising a thermoelectric module affixed to the chamber in direct contact, wherein the module is configured for conduction of a heat away from the cold chamber, wherein the cold chamber comprises a shelf removable from the cold chamber;   insulation surrounding the cold chamber and arrayed so as to create a sealed and insulated environment;   a heat flow system comprising a heat exchanger, a cold plate, and a heat conducting plate, wherein the heat exchanger comprises fins to cool the refrigeration unit system, wherein the heat conducting plate and the heat exchanger are connected via heat pipes configured to conduct the heat away from the heat conducting plate to the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger releases air through the air exhaust, wherein the thermoelectric module is in mechanical contact with the heat conducting plate and the cold plate, wherein the thermoelectric module is mounted to the cold plate by a mounting frame, wherein the thermoelectric module is compressed against the cold plate, wherein the heat conducting plate is between the cold plate and the heat exchanger, wherein the cold plate is between the cold chamber and the thermoelectric module;   a fan, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to the fan, and wherein the fan is configured to circulate cooling air over the fins of the heat exchanger;   thermal probes attached to the cold chamber, the heat exchanger, and exposed to an ambient environment having an ambient temperature, wherein the probes are configured to monitor system temperature states;   a system microprocessor, wherein the system microprocessor monitors the system temperature states and performs a cooling algorithm based on the system temperature states when the refrigeration unit system is powered by a rechargeable battery in the system housing, wherein the system microprocessor sets a target temperature near an upper end of a selected temperature range when a mains power is not connected to a mains power connector, and wherein the system microprocessor sets the target temperature near a lower end of the selected temperature range when the mains power is connected to the mains power connector;   a cloud computer in satellite data communication with the refrigeration unit, wherein the cloud computer receives data of a location of the refrigeration unit, a battery charge level of the refrigeration unit, the selected temperature range, an internal temperature inside of the refrigerator unit, and the ambient temperature outside of the refrigerator unit, wherein the system microprocessor calculates a remaining time of operable life of the refrigerator unit using the data of the internal temperature inside of the refrigeration unit and the ambient temperature outside of the refrigerator unit, wherein the operable life comprises an amount of time the unit has left wherein the cold chamber will remain below the upper end of the selected temperature range, wherein the refrigeration unit system is configured so the system microprocessor adjusts settings of the refrigerator unit based on the operable life.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cold chamber comprises a metal. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the metal comprises aluminum sheet metal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation is comprised of polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the algorithm runs the thermoelectric module by pulsing the refrigeration unit system between on and off states. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system microprocessor can sense a connection of the system to AC mains power and simultaneously charge the battery while running the thermoelectric module in order to cool the cold chamber. 
     
     
         7 . A refrigeration unit system comprising:
 a system housing having a front panel, a back panel, two side panels, a bottom panel, a bezel having an air exhaust;   a plurality of air intake slots;   a carrying handle above the air exhaust;   an assembly having a cold chamber central to the assembly, the assembly comprising a thermoelectric module affixed to the chamber in direct contact, wherein the module is configured for conduction of a heat away from the cold chamber, wherein the cold chamber comprises a shelf removable from the cold chamber;   insulation surrounding the cold chamber and arrayed so as to create a sealed and insulated environment;   a heat flow system comprising a heat exchanger, a cold plate, and a heat conducting plate, wherein the heat exchanger comprises fins to cool the refrigeration unit system, wherein the heat conducting plate and the heat exchanger are connected via heat pipes configured to conduct the heat away from the heat conducting plate to the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger releases air through the air exhaust, wherein the thermoelectric module is in mechanical contact with the heat conducting plate and the cold plate, wherein the thermoelectric module is mounted to the cold plate by a mounting frame, wherein the thermoelectric module is compressed against the cold plate, wherein the heat conducting plate is between the cold plate and the heat exchanger, wherein the cold plate is between the cold chamber and the thermoelectric module;   a fan, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to the fan, and wherein the fan is configured to circulate cooling air over the fins of the heat exchanger;   thermal probes attached to the cold chamber, the heat exchanger, and exposed to an ambient environment having an ambient temperature, wherein the probes are configured to determine a temperature in the middle of the cold chamber and monitor system temperature states of the system;   a user interface screen located on the housing, wherein a printed circuit board is located behind the user interface screen;   a system microprocessor within the printed circuit board, wherein the system microprocessor monitors the system temperature states and performs a cooling algorithm based on the system temperature states when the refrigeration unit system is powered by a rechargeable battery in the system housing, wherein the system microprocessor sets a target temperature near an upper end of a selected temperature range when a mains power is not connected to a mains power connector, and wherein the system microprocessor sets the target temperature near a lower end of the selected temperature range when the mains power is connected to the mains power connector;   a computer in satellite data communication with the refrigeration unit, wherein the computer receives data of a location of the refrigeration unit, a battery charge level of the refrigeration unit, the selected temperature range, an internal temperature inside of the refrigerator unit, and the ambient temperature outside of the refrigerator unit, wherein the system microprocessor calculates a remaining time of operable life of the refrigerator unit using the data of the internal temperature inside of the refrigeration unit and the ambient temperature outside of the refrigerator unit, wherein the operable life comprises an amount of time the unit has left wherein the cold chamber will remain below the upper end of the selected temperature range, wherein the refrigeration unit system is configured so the system microprocessor adjusts settings of the refrigerator unit based on the operable life.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the cold chamber comprises a metal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the metal comprises aluminum sheet metal. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the insulation is comprised of polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the algorithm runs the thermoelectric module by pulsing the refrigeration unit system between on and off states. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the system microprocessor can sense a connection of the system to AC mains power and simultaneously charge the battery while running the thermoelectric module in order to cool the cold chamber. 
     
     
         13 . A method for using a refrigeration unit system, comprising:
 placing contents into a cold chamber within an assembly, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of walls, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of sensors on a perimeter of the assembly;   controlling heat flowing into and within the cold chamber, wherein the controlling comprises using a thermoelectric module coupled to the cold chamber,   maintaining continuous operation of the thermoelectric module;   sensing temperature states at the perimeter of the assembly, wherein the sensing comprises sensing at the plurality of sensors; and   determining with a microprocessor an estimated temperature at a center of the cold chamber using the temperature states at the perimeter of the assembly and the ambient temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising powering the system with one or more batteries coupled to the assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising predicting a battery lifetime of the one or more batteries based on at least one parameter selected from the group of: ambient temperature, battery capacity, the number of batteries, and a state of charge for each of the one or more batteries. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising planning a route for the assembly to reach a desired location while maintaining the one or more of contents within a desired temperature range. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein planning the route is based on weather or ambient temperature in real time. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising swapping power between the one or more batteries. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising charging the system by sending power directly to the assembly when the one or more batteries are fully charged. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein maintaining continuous operation of the thermoelectric module comprises applying constant voltage to the thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the assembly comprises a heat flow system comprising a heat exchanger and a heat conducting plate, wherein the heat exchanger comprises fins to cool the refrigeration unit system, wherein the heat conducting plate comprises heat pipes configured to conduct the heat away from the plate to the heat exchanger, wherein the thermoelectric module is in mechanical contact with the heat conducting plate. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the assembly comprises a fan, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to the fan, wherein the fan is configured to circulate cooling air over the fins of the heat exchanger to cool the system. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the heat flow system comprises a cold plate, wherein the thermoelectric module is mounted to the cold plate by a mounting frame, wherein the thermoelectric module is compressed against the cold plate, wherein the cold plate is positioned on the assembly, wherein the heat conducting plate is between the cold plate and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         24 . A method for using a refrigeration unit system, comprising:
 placing contents into a cold chamber within an assembly, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of walls, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of sensors on a perimeter of the assembly and one or more batteries coupled to the assembly;   powering the system with one or more batteries coupled to the assembly; and   predicting a battery lifetime of the one or more batteries based on at least one parameter selected from the group of: ambient temperature, battery capacity, the number of batteries, and a state of charge for each of the one or more batteries.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising swapping power between the one or more batteries. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising charging the system by sending power directly to the assembly when the one or more batteries are fully charged. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising controlling heat flowing into and within the cold chamber, wherein the controlling comprises using a thermoelectric module coupled to the cold chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising maintaining continuous operation of the thermoelectric module, wherein the maintaining comprises applying constant voltage to the thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising sensing temperature states at the perimeter of the assembly, wherein the sensing comprises sensing at the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising determining with a microprocessor an estimated temperature at a center of the cold chamber using the temperature states at the perimeter of the assembly. 
     
     
         31 . A method for using a refrigeration unit system, comprising:
 placing contents into a cold chamber within an assembly, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of walls, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of sensors on a perimeter of the assembly and one or more batteries coupled to the assembly;   powering the system with one or more batteries coupled to the assembly;   predicting a battery lifetime of the one or more batteries based on at least one parameter selected from the group of: ambient temperature, battery capacity, the number of batteries, and a state of charge for each of the one or more batteries;   controlling heat flowing into and within the cold chamber, wherein the controlling comprises using a thermoelectric module coupled to the cold chamber, and   maintaining continuous operation of the thermoelectric module.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising sensing temperature states at the perimeter of the assembly, wherein the sensing comprises sensing at the plurality of sensors; and determining with a microprocessor an estimated temperature at a center of the cold chamber using the temperature states at the perimeter of the assembly.