Portable insulated container incorporating stirling cooler refrigeration

Abstract

An insulated container is provided that utilizes Stirling cooler technology. The insulated container and the Stirling cooler may include a self-contained, portable power source. Controls are provided for operating the Stirling cooler. The controls may include a temperature sensor for a compartment of the insulated container, and a speed control for the Stirling cooler. The controls may additionally include an overheat sensor for the Stirling cooler. As part of the controls for the Stirling cooler, a control panel may be provided as a graphical user interface for a user to control operation of the Stirling cooler. A low voltage indicator may be provided. In addition, a voltage sensor and a voltage reducer may be provided for determining whether voltage provided to the Stirling cooler is too high and for reducing the voltage to the Stirling cooler

1 . An insulated container, comprising: 
 a compartment;    a Stirling cooler configured and arranged to cool the compartment;    a temperature sensor for reading a temperature of the compartment; and    a speed control for the Stirling cooler, the speed control being configured to set the speed of operation of the Stirling cooler responsive to temperature readings by the temperature sensor.    
   
   
       2 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source connected to the Stirling cooler for providing power thereto, the power source being fully contained with the insulated container.  
   
   
       3 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein if the temperature inside the compartment is read to be higher than a desired range, then the speed control increases a speed of operation of the Stirling cooler.  
   
   
       4 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein if the temperature inside the compartment is read to be lower than a desired range, then the speed control decreases a speed of operation of the Stirling cooler.  
   
   
       5 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , further comprising controls for the Stirling cooler and having a plurality of temperature ranges at which the compartment may be operated associated therewith, the controls utilizing the speed control to operate the Stirling cooler so as to cool the compartment to a selected temperature range.  
   
   
       6 . The insulated container of  claim 5 , further comprising a control panel for a user to select one of the plurality of temperature ranges.  
   
   
       7 . The insulated container of  claim 6 , wherein the control panel includes a plurality of temperature setting buttons corresponding to different temperature ranges for the compartment.  
   
   
       8 . The insulated container of  claim 7 , wherein in response to pressing one of the temperature setting buttons, the Stirling cooler is operated so as to cool the compartment to the selected temperature range.  
   
   
       9 . The insulated container of  claim 8 , further comprising a first indicator for each of the plurality of temperature setting buttons that indicates that the Stirling cooler is working to cool the compartment to a temperature range associated with the respective temperature setting button.  
   
   
       10 . The insulated container of  claim 9 , further comprising a second indicator for each of the plurality of temperature setting buttons to indicate that the compartment has reached the temperature range associated with the respective temperature setting button.  
   
   
       11 . The insulated container of  claim 10 , wherein the first indicator comprises flashing of a light.  
   
   
       12 . The insulated container of  claim 11 , wherein the second indicator comprises making the light solid.  
   
   
       13 . The insulated container of  claim 12 , wherein the light comprises a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       14 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , further comprising a low power indicator.  
   
   
       15 . An insulated container, comprising: 
 a compartment;    a Stirling cooler configured and arranged to cool the compartment;    a temperature sensor for the Stirling cooler; and    controls for the Stirling cooler and connected to the overheat sensor, and having associated therewith a plurality of temperature ranges at which the compartment may be operated, and in response to an overheating signal by the temperature sensor, changing the setting from a first temperature range for compartment to a higher temperature range.    
   
   
       16 . The insulated container of  claim 15 , wherein the higher temperature range comprises the next highest temperature range.  
   
   
       17 . The insulated container of  claim 15 , wherein the first temperature range comprises the highest temperature range, and in response to receiving the overheating signal, shutting the Stirling cooler off.  
   
   
       18 . The insulated container of  claim 15 , further comprising a control panel for a user to select one of the plurality of temperature ranges.  
   
   
       19 . The insulated container of  claim 18 , wherein the control panel includes a plurality of temperature setting buttons corresponding to different temperature ranges for the compartment.  
   
   
       20 . The insulated container of  claim 19 , wherein in response to selecting one of the temperature setting buttons, the Stirling cooler is operated so as to cool the compartment to the selected temperature range.  
   
   
       21 . The insulated container of  claim 20 , further comprising a first indicator for each of the plurality of temperature setting buttons that indicates that the Stirling cooler is working to cool the compartment to a temperature range associated with the respective temperature setting button.  
   
   
       22 . The insulated container of  claim 21 , further comprising a second indicator for each of the plurality of temperature setting buttons to indicate that the compartment has reached the temperature range associated with the respective temperature setting button.  
   
   
       23 . The insulated container of  claim 22 , wherein the first indicator comprises flashing of a light.  
   
   
       24 . The insulated container of  claim 23 , wherein the second indicator comprises making the light solid.  
   
   
       25 . The insulated container of  claim 24 , wherein the light comprises a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       26 . The insulated container of  claim 15 , wherein the controls are further configured to return to the first temperature after the temperature sensor senses the Stirling cooler is no longer overheating.  
   
   
       27 . The insulated container of  claim 26 , wherein the controls are further configured to send a signal when returning to the first temperature range.  
   
   
       28 . The insulated container of  claim 27 , wherein the signal comprises a beep.  
   
   
       29 . The insulated container of  claim 26 , wherein the temperature sensor senses whether the cooler is no longer overheating after a time delay.  
   
   
       30 . The insulated container of  claim 15 , wherein the controls are further configured to send a signal when changing to the higher temperature range.  
   
   
       31 . The insulated container of  claim 30 , wherein the signal comprises a beep.  
   
   
       32 . An insulated container, comprising: 
 a compartment;    a Stirling cooler configured and arranged to cool the compartment;    controls for the Stirling cooler and having a plurality of temperature ranges at which the compartment may be operated associated therewith; and    a control panel for a user to select one of the plurality of temperature ranges.    
   
   
       33 . The insulated container of  claim 32 , wherein the control panel includes a plurality of temperature setting buttons corresponding to different temperature ranges for the compartment.  
   
   
       34 . The insulated container of  claim 33 , wherein in response to selecting one of the temperature setting buttons, the Stirling cooler is operated so as to cool the compartment to the selected temperature range.  
   
   
       35 . The insulated container of  claim 34 , further comprising a first indicator for each of the plurality of temperature setting buttons that indicates that the Stirling cooler is working to cool the compartment to a temperature range associated with the respective temperature setting button.  
   
   
       36 . The insulated container of  claim 35 , further comprising a second indicator for each of the plurality of temperature setting buttons to indicate that the compartment has reached the temperature range associated with the respective temperature setting button.  
   
   
       37 . The insulated container of  claim 36 , wherein the first indicator comprises flashing of a light.  
   
   
       38 . The insulated container of  claim 37 , wherein the second indicator comprises making the light solid.  
   
   
       39 . The insulated container of  claim 38 , wherein the light comprises a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       40 . The insulated container of  claim 32 , wherein the controls further comprise a component for preventing operation when polarity of a power source is reversed.  
   
   
       41 . The insulated container of  claim 32 , further comprising a thermosyphon connected to the Stirling cooler and wherein the controls further comprise a component for preventing operation when the thermosyphon is performing inadequately.  
   
   
       42 . An insulated container, comprising: 
 a compartment;    a Stirling cooler configured and arranged to cool the compartment;    a power source for the Stirling cooler; and    controls for the Stirling cooler configured to permit operation only if the power source is supplying voltage within a defined range.    
   
   
       43 . The insulated container of  claim 42 , wherein the controls further comprise a time delay for permitting operation outside the range for a defined amount of time.  
   
   
       44 . The insulated container of  claim 43 , wherein the power source comprises a power adapter that plugs into a car, and the defined amount of time is sufficient to permit starting of the car.  
   
   
       45 . The insulated container of  claim 42 , wherein the range is approximately 9 to 18 volts.