Portable active temperature controlled container comprising a cool sink

Abstract

An active temperature controlled container is configured to be portable so as to safely transport temperature sensitive and perishable goods (such as biological material): within a vessel that is thermally coupled to a thermoelectric assembly disposed within the container, where the thermal engine is powered by a power source, such as a battery. The thermoelectric assembly may include one or more resistors coupled to a resistor spacer block to act as a cool sink by actively and passively increasing the efficiency of the thermoelectric assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable active temperature-controlled container comprising:
 a vessel for holding temperature-sensitive goods;   a thermoelectric assembly comprising at least one thermoelectric unit layer coupled to the vessel; and   one or more resistors thermally and electrically coupled in series with the thermoelectric assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one thermoelectric unit layer is coupled to the one or more resistors such that the one or more resistors directly transfer heat produced by the one or more resistors to the one of the at least one thermoelectric unit layer. 
     
     
         3 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermally conductive resistor spacer block coupled to the thermoelectric assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more resistors are coupled to the thermally conductive resistor spacer block, wherein the thermally conductive resistor spacer block is disposed between the thermoelectric assembly and the one or more resistors. 
     
     
         5 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more resistors are each disposed within a recess formed in the thermally conductive resistor spacer block. 
     
     
         6 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of resistance of the thermoelectric assembly to resistance of the one or more resistors is 1:2. 
     
     
         7 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 1 , wherein a temperature differential between a temperature of a cold side and a hot side of the thermoelectric assembly is less than or equal to 13° C. 
     
     
         8 . A portable active temperature-controlled container comprising:
 a vessel for holding temperature-sensitive goods;   a thermoelectric assembly comprising at least one thermoelectric unit layer coupled to the vessel, each of the at least one thermoelectric unit layer having a cold side and a hot side; and   a cool sink coupled to the cold side of one of the at least one thermoelectric unit layer, the cool sink comprising one or more resistors configured to add heat to the cold side of the one of the at least one thermoelectric unit layer.   
     
     
         9 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 8 , wherein the cool sink further comprises a thermally conductive resistor spacer block coupled to the cold side of the one of the at least one thermoelectric unit layer, and wherein the one or more resistors are configured to add heat to the cold side of the one of the at least one thermoelectric unit layer through the thermally conductive resistor spacer block. 
     
     
         10 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more resistors are each disposed within a recess formed in the thermally conductive resistor spacer block. 
     
     
         11 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more resistors are coupled to the cold side of the one of the at least one thermoelectric unit layer such that the one or more resistors directly transfer heat produced by the one or more resistors to the one of the at least one thermoelectric unit layer. 
     
     
         12 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 8 , wherein the portable active temperature-controlled container is formed without a fan. 
     
     
         13 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 8 , wherein the portable active temperature-controlled container is formed without a vent between the thermoelectric assembly and an exterior of the portable active temperature-controlled container. 
     
     
         14 . The portable active temperature-controlled container of  claim 8 , wherein the cool sink is configured to operate independently from the thermoelectric assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A method of transporting temperature-sensitive goods, the method comprising:
 placing the temperature-sensitive goods in a vessel within a portable active temperature-controlled container, the vessel coupled to a thermoelectric assembly comprising at least one thermoelectric unit layer, wherein a cold side of the thermoelectric assembly is coupled to a cool sink comprising one or more resistors;   activating the Peltier effect of the thermoelectric assembly by passing electrical current through the thermoelectric assembly during transport of the temperature-sensitive goods in the vessel; and   adding heat to the cold side of the thermoelectric assembly by passing electrical current through the one or more resistors during transport of the temperature-sensitive goods in the vessel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising operating the cool sink independently from the thermoelectric assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein adding heat to the cold side achieves a temperature differential between a temperature of the cold side and a hot side of the thermoelectric assembly that is less than or equal to 13° C. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising controlling a temperature of the temperature-sensitive goods within the vessel to within plus or minus 0.3° C. of a target temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the thermoelectric assembly is configured to operate with a coefficient of performance greater than or equal to 100%. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the thermoelectric assembly is configured to operate with a coefficient of performance in a range of 150-300% during at least 80% of operation.