# US 2014/0150461 A1 · Refrigerated Point-of-Use Holding Cabinet with Downloadable Software > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150461 A1 - Document ID: US20140150461A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/690,335 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Prince Castle LLC - Inventors: Loren Veltrop - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150461A1 ## CPC - F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect - F25D 25/024: {Slidable shelves} - F25D 25/028: {Cooled supporting means} - F25D 29/00: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - F25D 25/025: {Drawers} - F25D 2700/12: Sensors measuring the inside temperature - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract A refrigerated point-of-use food holding cabinet keeps food products cold in compartments having cross sections that are substantially U-shaped. Food products are kept refrigerated using heat-absorbing, heat-exchangers thermally coupled to the U-shaped compartment. Refrigeration is provided by either a conventional reversed-Brayton cycle, one or more Peltier devices or a chilled, re-circulating liquid that does not change phase as it circulates but which is chilled by another refrigeration system, such as a conventional refrigeration system. An optional cover helps prevent food flavor transfers between compartments. Semiconductor temperature sensors and a computer effectuate temperature control. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A food holding cabinet comprising: a thermally conductive tray receiving member comprising a bottom and side walls, the side walls extending upwardly from the bottom, the bottom and side walls defining a cavity in which food or a food holding tray can be placed to be refrigerated; a refrigeration device, coupled to the tray receiving member; a first computer coupled to and configured to control the refrigeration device, the first computer comprising a first non-transitory memory device coupled to the first computer and storing at least one of: data and executable program instructions for the first computer, the first computer being configured to be capable of being coupled to a second computer, the first computer being additionally configured to be able to receive from the second computer at least one of: data and executable program instructions for the first computer, and configured to be able to execute program instructions that the first computer receives from the second computer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The food holding cabinet of claim 1, wherein the first computer is additionally configured to be able to store in the memory device, data and executable program instructions received by the first computer from the second computer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The food holding cabinet of claim 1, wherein first computer and second computer are different types of computers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The food holding cabinet of claim 1, wherein the refrigeration device is a liquid phase/vapor phase refrigeration system comprising a compressor and an evaporator coil, the evaporator coil being attached to outside surfaces of the bottom and sidewalls of the tray receiving member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The food holding cabinet according to claim 4 wherein the refrigeration coil comprises a plurality of boustrophedonic U-shaped loops, attached to outside surfaces of the bottom and side walls tray receiving member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The food holding cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the refrigeration device comprises a Peltier device attached to the tray receiving member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The food holding cabinet of claim 1, further comprised of a semiconductor temperature sensor coupled to the tray-receiving member and which is coupled to the first computer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The food holding cabinet of claim 7, wherein program instructions stored in the memory device are configured to control the refrigeration device responsive to a signal output from the semiconductor temperature sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The food holding cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a heater comprised of an electrically resistive wire coupled to the tray receiving member, the heater being coupled to and controlled by the computer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The food holding cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a user interface operatively coupled to the first computer, the user interface being configured to display information and receive input commands from a user, the input command being sent to the first computer and effectuating control of the food holding cabinet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The food holding cabinet of claim 1, wherein the first computer is configured to receive at least one of: data and executable program instructions, as a download from a second computer. ### Claim 12 A food holding cabinet comprising: first and second tray-receiving members within the at least one tier of the cabinet, each of the tray-receiving member being generally U-shaped in cross-section having a horizontal bottom and side walls extending generally vertically from the horizontal bottom; a first refrigeration device coupled to the first tray receiving member; a first computer coupled to and configured to control the first refrigeration device, the first computer comprising a first non-transitory memory device coupled to the first computer and storing at least one of: data and program instructions for the first computer; a second computer coupled to the first computer, the second computer comprising a second, non-transitory memory device storing at least one of: data and executable program instructions for the first computer; and wherein the first computer is configured to be able to receive and execute program instructions that the first computer receives from the second computer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The food holding cabinet of claim 12, further comprising a second refrigeration device coupled to the second tray receiving member, the first and second refrigeration devices being coupled to and controlled by the first computer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The food holding cabinet of claim 13, wherein the first and second refrigeration devices are first and second, series-connected evaporator coils, which are connected to a single refrigeration compressor, operatively coupled to and controlled by the first computer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The food holding cabinet of claim 13, wherein the first and second refrigeration devices are first and second Peltier devices attached to the first and second tray receiving members respectively. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The food holding cabinet of claim 12, further comprised of a semiconductor temperature sensor, coupled to at least one of the first tray-receiving member and coupled to the first computer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The food holding cabinet of claim 16, wherein the first computer is configured to control the first refrigeration device responsive to a signal received by the first computer from the semiconductor temperature sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The food holding cabinet of claim 12, further comprising a heater comprised of an electrically resistive wire coupled to the first tray receiving member, the heater being coupled to and controlled by the first computer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The food holding cabinet of claim 12, further comprising a user interface operatively coupled to at least one of: the first computer and the second computer, the user interface being configured to display information and receive input commands from a user, the input command being sent to at least one of the first computer and second computer and thereby effectuating control of the food holding cabinet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The food holding cabinet of claim 12, wherein the first computer is configured to receive at least one of: data and executable program instructions, as a download from the second computer.