Provided is a thermostatic container that improves both the communication radio wave transmissivity and keeping cold performance of a thermostatic container. A thermostatic container includes: a vacuum heat insulating container; a vacuum heat insulating lid configured to close the vacuum heat insulating container; a box body housed inside the vacuum heat insulating container; a box lid configured to close the box body; and a phase change material provided on a bottom portion and a wall portion of the box body and the box lid. An area made of a radio wave transmissive organic substance is provided on a path leading from inside of the box body to outside of the heat insulating container.

A method for controlling a refrigerator, includes turning off a cold air transmission unit as a temperature of a storage compartment becomes equal to or less than a second reference temperature while a cold air generator is operated, turning on the cold air transmission unit, upon determining that the temperature of the storage compartment is equal to or greater than a first reference temperature which is greater than the second reference temperature, and calculating, by a controller, an operating ratio of the cold air transmission unit based on ON and OFF time of the cold air transmission unit, determining an output of the cold air transmission unit based on the operating ratio of the cold air transmission unit, and operating the cold air transmission unit with the determined output, upon determining that the temperature of the storage compartment is equal to or less than the second reference temperature.

A temperature-regulating apparatus is provided to rapidly cool a beverage to a desired temperature. In some variations, the geometry of the temperature-regulating apparatus is configured to rapidly cool a beverage incorporating one or more inner portions that contain a temperature regulating material, such as a phase change material having a high heat capacity. The geometry of the interior of the container may be configured to aid in rapid heat transfer between the beverage therein and the outer shell of the inner portion and may have a length to width aspect ratio of at least 4:1. The inner portion may be formed between the exterior wall of the container and by a single piece of formed metal that extends along the length, width and base walls to form the interior for receiving a beverage. The cavity formed between the outer shell and the exterior wall may be at least 15 mm deep.

A cold storage box is provided that allows individual confirmation that stored objects such as medicine, food, and beverages have been managed at an appropriate temperature. The cold storage box 1 includes: a storage part which can house stored objects; a lid part which covers an opening part of the storage part; and a cooling device which cools the storage part, and the cold storage box includes an RF tag provided for each of the stored objects and equipped with a temperature sensor and a control part which communicates with the RF tag at appropriate time intervals via an antenna part provided inside the storage part and stores ID information of the RF tag and temperature information sensed by the temperature sensor of the RF tag.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to form a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber, a first evaporator configured to cool the first storage chamber, a first fan configured to circulate air in the first storage chamber to the first evaporator and the first storage chamber, a second evaporator configured to cool the second storage chamber, a compressor configured to be connected to the first evaporator and the second evaporator, a second fan configured to circulate air in the second storage chamber to the second evaporator and the second storage chamber; a refrigerant valve configured to guide refrigerant to the first evaporator or the second evaporator, and a controller configured to perform a plurality of modes sequentially to defrost the second evaporator.

The present disclosure acquires information on a cold insulator. The cold insulator includes: at least one cold storage material; a packaging unit configured to package the at least one cold storage material; one or more first temperature sensors disposed on the packaging unit; and a transmission unit disposed on the packaging unit to transmit a result of measurement performed by the one or more first temperature sensors to an external device.

An environmental control unit for use with a transport container is provided. The environmental control unit includes: a thermoelectric device; a fan to blow air across the thermoelectric device; a cooling passage configured to receive the air blown across the thermoelectric device and convey the air to a compartment of a transport container when the transport container is removably connected to the environmental control unit; a controller in electronic communication with the thermoelectric device and the fan; a battery configured to power the environmental control unit; and one or more piezoelectric devices configured to generate electrical power to charge the battery, wherein each of the one or more piezoelectric devices is electrically connected to the battery.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for heating and cooling substances, such as food and beverages. A portable device may have an exterior surface and an interior surface, with one or more heating elements positioned at least partially between the exterior surface and the interior surface, and with one or more cooling elements positioned at least partially between the exterior surface and the interior surface. The portable device may include one or more power sources operatively connected to the one or more heating elements and the one or more cooling element, and may include at least one processor that controls, based on the one or more power sources, activation of one of the one or more heating elements or the one or more cooling elements at a time.

A refrigeration system 1a includes a refrigerated compartment 2 for storing perishable goods; a refrigeration unit 10 operably coupled to the refrigerated compartment 2; a plurality of sensors including an internal temperature sensor 4 configured to determine a temperature of the refrigerated compartment 2, and a weight sensor 5a configured to determine a weight of the goods located within the refrigerated compartment 2; and a controller 20 configured to: receive data from the plurality of sensors; determine a thermal inertia parameter of the goods located within the refrigerated compartment 2 based upon the temperature of the refrigerated compartment 2 and the weight of the goods; and adjust a mode of operation of the refrigeration unit 10 in accordance with the thermal inertia parameter of the goods.

A refrigerator and/or freezer unit and system for storing, monitoring, and maintaining a supply of temperature sensitive pharmaceutical products in compliance with regulatory requirements. The unit contains compartments for each product type in multiple controlled temperature zones with sensors to track product status and content. In a system, each unit communicates with an application service provider to provide remote inventory management capability.