公开(公告)号：US10012417B2

公开(公告)日：2018-07-03

申请号：US13888791

申请日：2013-05-07

申请人： Phononic, Inc.

发明人： Jesse W. Edwards ,  Robert Joseph Therrien ,  M. Sean June

IPC分类号： F25B21/04 ,  F25B21/02

CPC分类号： F25B21/04 ,  F25B21/02 ,  F25B2321/021 ,  F25B2321/0212 ,  F25B2321/023 ,  F25B2321/025 ,  F25B2700/2104 ,  Y02B30/66

摘要： A method of controlling a heat exchanger including thermoelectric coolers to maintain set point temperature of a chamber. The method includes receiving temperature data indicative of a temperature of the chamber and selectively controlling two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers based on the temperature of the chamber. Selectively controlling the two or more subsets includes operating each thermoelectric cooler in a first subset at or near the point where the coefficient of performance is maximized (QCOPmax) by providing a current or voltage with amplitude corresponding to QCOPmax (ICOPmax, VCOPmax) when the temperature of the chamber is within a predefined steady state range including the set point temperature.

公开(公告)号：US20220113068A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-14

申请号：US17499199

申请日：2021-10-12

申请人： Phononic, Inc.

发明人： Austin J. Lewis ,  Jesse W. Edwards ,  Mattias Olsson ,  Simbarashe Nyika ,  Ed Karwacki

IPC分类号： F25B21/04 ,  F25D11/00

摘要： Systems and methods for modular power and access control for actively cooled containers are provided. In some embodiments, a mobile and/or stationary, modular, power system/dock for perishable storage/transport containers with active cooling functionality is provided to maintain a controlled internal temperature for extended periods. In some embodiments, this active cooling can include: thermoelectric (TEC), Stirling-cooler; and/or vapor compression. This can be in support of refrigerated or frozen cargos in (but not limited to) Cold chain, grocery (food), Pharma, Medical applications, or specialized customer requirements. The power system is useable with either mains, locally generated, and/or battery power. In some embodiments, the system includes a proximity sensor and/or switching system to control timing of power application and power removal to the food storage cooler to eliminate risk of arcing or shock.

公开(公告)号：US10473345B2

公开(公告)日：2019-11-12

申请号：US15628066

申请日：2017-06-20

申请人： Phononic, Inc.

发明人： Jesse W. Edwards ,  Devon Newman ,  Erik P. Miller

IPC分类号： F25B21/02 ,  F24F5/00 ,  F24F1/0022 ,  F24F1/0059 ,  F24F12/00

摘要： A micro-climate control system includes a thermoelectric system integrated with a fan assembly. The thermoelectric system is operable to actively cool or heat air as the air passes through the fan assembly. The thermoelectric system includes a thermoelectric heat pump, a heat reject subsystem, and a heat accept subsystem. The fan assembly is operable to draw air from a space to be conditioned and output conditioned air passed through one of the heat reject subsystem and the heat accept subsystem to the space to be conditioned and output air passed through the other away from the space to be conditioned. In this way, the micro-climate control system may provide localized comfort, while allowing a larger climate control system to maintain a more efficient temperature set point. In this way, the overall energy consumption may be reduced while providing the same level of effective comfort.

公开(公告)号：US20180261748A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-13

申请号：US15917282

申请日：2018-03-09

申请人： Phononic, Inc.

发明人： Brian J. Williams ,  Devon Newman ,  Abhishek Yadav ,  Jason D. Reed ,  Kevin S. Schneider ,  Jesse W. Edwards

IPC分类号： H01L35/30 ,  H01L35/32 ,  H01L23/38

CPC分类号： H01L35/30 ,  H01L23/38 ,  H01L35/32 ,  H01L35/325 ,  H05K1/184 ,  H05K2201/10219

摘要： A thermoelectric heat pump cascade and a method of manufacturing such are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric heat pump cascade includes a first stage plurality of thermoelectric devices attached to a first stage circuit board and a first stage thermal interface material between the thermoelectric devices and the heat spreading lid over the thermoelectric devices. The thermoelectric heat pump cascade component also includes a second stage plurality of thermoelectric devices attached to a second stage circuit board where the second stage plurality of thermoelectric devices has a greater heat pumping capacity than the first stage plurality of thermoelectric devices, and a second stage thermal interface material between the second stage plurality of thermoelectric devices and the first stage plurality of thermoelectric devices. In this way, a greater temperature difference can be achieved while allowing for protection of the thermoelectric devices, simplifying design, and improving reliability of the product.

公开(公告)号：US12092377B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-17

申请号：US17135420

申请日：2020-12-28

申请人： Phononic, Inc.

发明人： Jesse W. Edwards ,  Abhishek Yadav ,  Devon Newman ,  Austin J. Lewis ,  Simbarashe Nyika ,  Mattias Olsson ,  Edward Joseph Karwacki ,  Frank Holton

IPC分类号： F25B21/04 ,  B65D81/18 ,  B65D81/38

CPC分类号： F25B21/04 ,  B65D81/18 ,  B65D81/3813

摘要： Systems and methods for thermoelectric refrigerated/frozen product storage and transportation are provided. A cooler includes active thermoelectric cooling to maintain internal temperature within cold chain or customer requirements. The active cooler can be used for storage and transportation of refrigerated and frozen food stuffs, medical or biological products, etc. The active cooler maintains stable and uniform temperature control. A drop in module (e.g., removable/replaceable) can convert any insulated box to active cooling. This can be a commercial transport tote that provides high efficiency. The control logic can be enabled as an API to offer remote monitoring/control to utilize on board, wireless, and networked. A use profile can be customized, and a subscription software package can enable this. The solutions described herein can be used across the whole commercial spectrum and can be ready to integrate into large quantity fleet systems.

公开(公告)号：US10741741B2

公开(公告)日：2020-08-11

申请号：US15628218

申请日：2017-06-20

申请人： Phononic, Inc.

发明人： Jesse W. Edwards ,  Devon Newman ,  Arthur Prejs ,  Alex R. Guichard ,  Jason D. Reed ,  Kevin Shawne Schneider ,  Brian Williams ,  Robert J. Therrien

IPC分类号： F25B21/02 ,  H01L35/34 ,  H01L35/10 ,  H01L35/08 ,  H01L35/12

摘要： A thermoelectric device with multiple headers and a method of manufacturing such a device are provided herein. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric device includes multiple thermoelectric legs, a cold header thermally attached to the thermoelectric legs, and a hot header thermally attached to the thermoelectric legs opposite the cold header. At least one of the cold header and the hot header includes at least one score line. According to some embodiments disclosed herein, this the thermal stress on the thermoelectric device can be greatly reduced or relieved by splitting the header into multiple pieces or by scoring the header by a depth X. This enables the use of larger thermoelectric devices and/or thermoelectric devices with an increased lifespan.

公开(公告)号：US10520230B2

公开(公告)日：2019-12-31

申请号：US14486652

申请日：2014-09-15

申请人： Phononic, Inc.

发明人： Jesse W. Edwards ,  Paul B. McCain

IPC分类号： F25B49/00 ,  F25B21/02 ,  F28F27/00

摘要： At least one forced convection unit added to a passive heat transport system is operated during transient heat loading periods but not operated under steady state conditions for cooling and maintaining a set point temperature of a chamber or surface. Forced convection is selectively employed based on temperature data and/or set point temperature values. A reject heat transport system includes first and second reject heat sinks each coupled via main and crossover transport tubes to first and second reject heat exchangers, permitting both heat sinks to dissipate heat from first and second thermoelectric heat pumps regardless of whether the first, the second, or the first and second heat pumps are in operation.

公开(公告)号：US20180259231A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-13

申请号：US15915638

申请日：2018-03-08

申请人： Phononic, Inc.

发明人： Daniel Barus

IPC分类号： F25B21/04

CPC分类号： F25B21/04 ,  F25B2321/0212 ,  H01L35/00 ,  H01L35/32

摘要： A solid-state switch architecture for multi-mode operation of a thermoelectric device and a method of operating such a device are provided herein. The switch architecture includes one or more inputs operable to receive power from one or more power supplies. The switch architecture also includes multiple outputs operable to provide power to respective channels of the thermoelectric device. The switch architecture also includes multiple solid-state switches operable to connect the one or more inputs to the outputs and a controller operable to toggle the solid-state switches to provide multiple modes of operation of the thermoelectric device. In this way, the thermoelectric device can be operated in a more efficient way while decreasing the size and increasing the reliability of the switch architecture. Also, this may allow the use of standard and less expensive power supplies. This may result in a significant reduction in cost and an increase in reliability.

公开(公告)号：US20240263864A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-08

申请号：US18433287

申请日：2024-02-05

申请人： Phononic, Inc.

发明人： Peter Loftus ,  Karen Benedek ,  Michael Hash ,  Michael Canaday ,  Alfredo Millan

IPC分类号： F25D11/00

CPC分类号： F25D11/006 ,  F25D2323/0027

摘要： Systems and methods for prevention of exhaust air re-entrainment in automated storage facility with actively cooled totes are provided. In some embodiments, an actively cooled container includes: an active cooling subsystem; and a heat exhaust outlet to remove heat from the active cooling subsystem; wherein the heat exhaust outlet is angled upward to more effectively remove the heat from the ambient environment of the actively cooled container. In some embodiments, a method of managing a storage area of actively cooled totes includes: determining a plurality of actively cooled totes that require active cooling; and determining an arrangement of the plurality of actively cooled totes in the storage area. The arrangement reduces a column of hot exhaust air formed in the storage area. In this way, the storage of actively cooled totes is made more reliable and more efficient.

公开(公告)号：US20240262408A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-08

申请号：US18433316

申请日：2024-02-05

申请人： Phononic, Inc.

发明人： Michael Canaday ,  Ed Karwacki ,  Michael Hash ,  Sheldon Muir

IPC分类号： B62B3/10 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H02J50/40

CPC分类号： B62B3/106 ,  H02J7/00032 ,  H02J7/0045 ,  H02J7/0048 ,  H02J7/0063 ,  H02J50/40 ,  B62B2204/04

摘要： An electrical distribution system for actively cooled totes is provided. In some embodiments, a transportation cart for providing power to one or more cooled totes, includes: wheels for allowing the transportation cart for moving; one or more tote placement locations; a battery for storing power; and a power subsystem for providing power to at least one of the one or more tote placement locations. This provides additional cold chain compliance while making picking easier and less hurried.