A measuring system for automatically determining and/or monitoring the quality of a liquid or viscous foodstuff, including a housing with an interior space for a product container for the foodstuff, the product container has a product space for the foodstuff and a lid provided with a probe with a thermometer, a heating and cooling device for the interior space, a sensor device for determining a non-temperature quality-related parameter value of the foodstuff, and a control unit designed to control the measuring system, measure, store, process and/or export the measured parameter values, and to control the heating and/or the cooling system according to a desired time-temperature program. The cooling system includes a cold buffer, a cooler for the cold buffer, and a separate refrigerant circuit. The cold buffer includes a buffer holder with a phase-transition material, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a cooling circuit with a pump.

A heat pump assembly includes a plurality of Peltier devices mounted to receive air from a common air inlet, means for causing a current to flow through the Peltier devices, a plurality of first heat sinks arranged in thermal contact with a first, hot, side of the Peltier devices, and a plurality of second heat sinks arranged in thermal contact with a second, cold, side of the Peltier devices. Each of the first heat sinks defines a respective first channel through which inlet air warmed by the hot side of the Peltier devices flows, and each of the second heat sinks defines a respective second channel through which inlet air cooled by the cold side of the Peltier devices flows.

A magnetic fluid drive device for driving a magnetic fluid having temperature sensitivity in accordance with heat reception, the magnetic fluid drive device includes: a heat receiver having a flow channel through which the magnetic fluid flows, to receive heat; a magnet member disposed outside the flow channel to generate a magnetic field; and a drive mechanism that changes a position of the magnet member with respect to the heat receiver from a first position that is adjacent to the heat receiver with the magnet member applying the magnetic field to the magnetic fluid in the flow channel.

A magnetic fluid drive device for driving a magnetic fluid having temperature sensitivity in accordance with heat reception, the magnetic fluid drive device includes: a heat receiver having a flow channel through which the magnetic fluid flows, to receive heat; a magnet member disposed outside the flow channel to generate a magnetic field; and a drive mechanism that changes a position of the magnet member with respect to the heat receiver from a first position that is adjacent to the heat receiver with the magnet member applying the magnetic field to the magnetic fluid in the flow channel.

An embodiment of the present invention is a transparent ice cube maker configured to mass produce transparent ice cubes comprising various water movement systems and various refrigeration systems utilizing at least substantially one directional freezing of the water through a wall of an ice mold to make an ice cube having a center that is void of visible crystallization and void of a visible bubble.

A nanophononic metamaterial-based thermoelectric energy conversion device and processes for fabricating a nanophononic metamaterial-based thermoelectric energy conversion device is provided. In one implementation, for example, a nanophononic metamaterial-based thermoelectric energy conversion device includes a first conductive pad, a second conductive pad, and a plurality of strip units. In one implementation, the first conductive pad is coupled to a first connection of the thermoelectric energy conversion device, and the second conductive pad is coupled to a second connection of the thermoelectric energy conversion device. The plurality of strip units are connected in series between the first and second conductive pads and provide a parallel heat transfer pathway. The strip units include a nanostructure design comprising a nanophononic metamaterial.

A nanophononic metamaterial-based thermoelectric energy conversion device and processes for fabricating a nanophononic metamaterial-based thermoelectric energy conversion device is provided. In one implementation, for example, a nanophononic metamaterial-based thermoelectric energy conversion device includes a first conductive pad, a second conductive pad, and a plurality of strip units. In one implementation, the first conductive pad is coupled to a first connection of the thermoelectric energy conversion device, and the second conductive pad is coupled to a second connection of the thermoelectric energy conversion device. The plurality of strip units are connected in series between the first and second conductive pads and provide a parallel heat transfer pathway. The strip units include a nanostructure design comprising a nanophononic metamaterial.

A temperature modulation system for a bed, blanket, or other furniture includes a fluid for moderating temperature change, a number of conduit circuits for directing the fluid through respective zones, a control unit including a thermoelectric device for modulating temperature of the fluid, and a pump. Each of the conduit circuits selectively and independently directs fluid through its respective zone in order to produce a temperature within the zone that is independent of the temperature outside the zone. The system also includes an arrangement of one or more zones in an arrangement in which the control unit is programmed to vary the zone temperature over time according to a schedule.

Aspects herein are directed to an apparel thermo-regulatory system that actively heats or cools a wearer. The apparel thermo-regulatory system comprises an apparel item, a dimensionally stable frame comprising at least one aperture that is affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item at a predetermined location, an absorbent material applied to an exposed face of the dimensionally stable frame, and at least one thermoelectric module that is releasably positioned within the aperture of the dimensionally stable frame.

Aspects herein are directed to an apparel thermo-regulatory system that actively heats or cools a wearer. The apparel thermo-regulatory system comprises an apparel item, a dimensionally stable frame comprising at least one aperture that is affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item at a predetermined location, an absorbent material applied to an exposed face of the dimensionally stable frame, and at least one thermoelectric module that is releasably positioned within the aperture of the dimensionally stable frame.