Monitoring device for a temperature-controlled storage device, monitoring device having a protective container and method for operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a monitoring device (1) for a temperature-controlled storage device (3), for example a refrigerator, having a first detection device with a first sensor (4) for detecting the activity curve of a cooling or heating unit (3a) and having a processing device (5) which determines at least one characteristic variable for the temperature curve in the storage device (3) from the activity curve. The processing device can be designed as a learning system with artificial intelligence, which is suitably trained.

1 . Monitoring device ( 1 ) for a temperature-controlled storage device ( 3 ) with
 a first detection device with a first sensor ( 4 ) for detecting the course of activity of a cooling or heating unit ( 3   a ) and with   a processing device ( 5 ) which determines at least one characteristic variable for the temperature curve in the storage device ( 3 ) from the course of activity.   
     
     
         2 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the first sensor ( 4 ) is an acoustic sensor, a vibration sensor, a current or voltage sensor or a sensor for an electric or magnetic field, wherein in particular a second detection device with a second sensor ( 6 ,  60 ) in the form of a temperature sensor is additionally provided.   
     
     
         3 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized by a third detection device having a third sensor ( 7 ) for detecting whether the storage device ( 3 ) is in an open or closed state.   
     
     
         4 . Monitoring device according to  claim 3 ,
 characterized in that   the third sensor ( 7 ) is a light sensor or a position sensor for detecting the position of a door ( 3   b ) or a closing element of the storage device ( 3 ).   
     
     
         5 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the processing device ( 5 ) comprises a device ( 5   a ) for Fourier transformation and/or other signal processing of the time-dependent data acquired by at least one of the sensors ( 4 ,  6 ,  7 ,  60 ).   
     
     
         6 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the processing device ( 5 ) comprises a storage device ( 5   b ) for the acquired data ( 4   a ,  6   a ,  7   a ) and/or the Fourier transformed data.   
     
     
         7 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the processing device ( 5 ) has a device ( 5   c ) for comparing the acquired data ( 4   a ,  6   a ,  7   a ) or the Fourier-transformed data with reference data, which is set up, in particular trained, to determine from the comparison one or more characteristic variables of the temperature profile in the storage device ( 1 ) and/or one or more characteristic variables for the state of the cooling or heating unit ( 3   a ) and/or the insulation state of the storage device ( 3 ) or the state of a liquid coolant.   
     
     
         8 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the processing device ( 5 ) determines from the acquired data ( 4   a ,  6   a ,  7   a ) the course of temperature in the storage device ( 3 ) and in particular the course of temperature of a substance or object ( 11 ) stored therein.   
     
     
         9 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   it has a device ( 8 ) for displaying or outputting the determined characteristic variables and/or the activity curve of a cooling or heating unit ( 3   a ) and/or an alarm signal.   
     
     
         10 . Monitoring device according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   it has a transmitting and/or receiving device ( 9 ) for wireless communication, in particular for outputting alarm signals or display data on a terminal ( 10 ).   
     
     
         11 . Protective device with a protective container ( 2 ) for storing substances and/or objects as well as a monitoring device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein in particular the monitoring device ( 1 ) is integrated into the protective container ( 2 ) and further in particular a sensor ( 60 ) for temperature monitoring is provided in the interior of the protective container ( 2 ), wherein in particular further the protective container has a container wall ( 2   a ,  2   b ) which consists at least partially of a material ( 2   c ) which exhibits a phase transition in a temperature range between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, and in that in particular the material is integrated, in particular enclosed, in the container wall ( 2   a ,  2   b ) in such a way that the phase transition can be passed through several times without producing a change in shape of the container wall.   
     
     
         12 . Method of operating a monitoring device according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the measured data ( 4   a ,  6   a ,  7   a ), in particular in the form of activity and temperature/time profiles and in particular also measured acoustic signals or measured signals of a vibration sensor, are Fourier transformed and compared with reference data, and in that at least one characteristic variable for the temperature profile in the temperature-controlled storage device ( 3 ) is determined from the comparison.   
     
     
         13 . Method of training a monitoring device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  in a storage device ( 3 ),
 characterized in 
 continuously measuring at least the temperature in the storage device, in particular in a protective container ( 2 ) within the storage device, as well as the course of activity of a heating or cooling unit ( 3   a ), and determining reference data therefrom.