Refrigerator appliance with container cooling cell

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance is provided, including a cabinet having a surface operably coupled to a thermoelectric cooler. The refrigeration appliance is configured to apply a voltage to generate an electrical current to move thermal energy from a first side to a second side of the surface. A container includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The lower chamber contains a phase change material positioned in thermal communication with the upper chamber and the thermoelectric cooler when the container is placed on the surface of the shelf

1 . A refrigeration appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber and comprising a shelf mounted within the chilled chamber, the shelf defining a surface operably coupled to a thermoelectric cooler, wherein the refrigeration appliance is configured to apply a voltage to generate an electrical current to move thermal energy from a first side to a second side of the surface; and   a container comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the lower chamber contains a phase change material positioned in thermal communication with the upper chamber and the thermoelectric cooler when the container is placed on the surface of the shelf and enclosed within the chilled chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a load cell operably coupled to the surface, wherein the load cell is configured to activate the thermoelectric cooler when the container is positioned at the surface.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a sensor positioned at the surface, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a presence and magnitude of a magnetic field.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 3 , the container comprising a metallic surface positioned at a bottom end of the container, wherein the metallic surface forms the magnetic field when the container is positioned at the surface. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 5 , the container comprising a metallic portion positioned at a bottom end of the container, wherein the metallic portion forms a magnetic field when positioned at the first side of the thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a thermocouple sensor positioned at the first side of the surface, wherein the thermocouple sensor is operably coupled to the thermoelectric cooler to provide a temperature signal to the thermoelectric cooler, and wherein the thermoelectric cooler is configured to maintain a substantially constant temperature signal at the first side of the surface.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first side is a cold side at which thermal energy is removed, and wherein the second side is a hot side at which thermal energy is transferred from the cold side. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an imaging device configured to detect presence of the container at the thermoelectric cooler.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler is a Peltier cell. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a controller configured to generate and receive signals, the controller operatively coupled to the thermoelectric cooler, the controller configured to:   transfer thermal energy from the phase change material at the container to the first side of the thermoelectric cooler.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 11 , the controller configured to:
 selectively provide the electrical current corresponding to cooling or freezing the phase change material at the container to transfer thermal energy from the phase change material at the container to the first side of the thermoelectric cooler.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 12 , the controller configured to:
 generate the electrical current corresponding to a desired temperature at the first side of the surface or at the container.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 13 , the controller configured to:
 selectively adjust the electrical current to maintain a substantially constant temperature signal at the first side of the thermoelectric cooler.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 11 , the controller configured to:
 transfer thermal energy from a fluid contained at the upper chamber of the container to the phase change material contained at the lower chamber of the container.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 11 , the controller configured to:
 determine a difference in temperature between a first portion of the container and a desired temperature at the first portion of the container, wherein the first portion forms the lower chamber proximate to the first side of the surface when the container is positioned at the thermoelectric cooler.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a sensor positioned at the surface of the cabinet, the sensor configured to detect at least a presence of the container at the thermoelectric cooler; and   a controller configured to generate and receive signals, the controller operatively coupled to the thermoelectric cooler by a conductive signal line.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 17 , the sensor configured to provide a signal to the controller when a threshold is exceeded corresponding to a change in load or difference in temperature at the sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 18 , the controller configured to receive the signal at the first side of the thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration appliance of  claim 17 , the sensor forming a thermal imaging device configured to detect presence and temperature of the container, the sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of presence of the container at the first side of the thermoelectric cooler, and the controller configured to selectively provide an electrical current corresponding to cooling or freezing the phase change material at the container to transfer thermal energy from the phase change material at the container to the first side of the thermoelectric cooler.