# US 2021/0341184 A1 · Portable active temperature controlled container comprising a cool sink > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0341184 A1 - Document ID: US20210341184A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/233,419 - Filed: 2021-04-16 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-06 - Assignees: Ambassador Asset Management Limited Partnership - Applicants: Ambassador Asset Management Limited Partnership - Inventors: Alp Ilercil - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210341184A1 ## CPC - F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect - F25B 21/04: reversible - F25B 2321/0251: by a gas - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS ## Abstract An active temperature controlled container is configured to be portable so as to safely transport temperature sensitive and perishable goods (such as biological material): within a vessel that is thermally coupled to a thermoelectric assembly disposed within the container, where the thermal engine is powered by a power source, such as a battery. The thermoelectric assembly may include one or more resistors coupled to a resistor spacer block to act as a cool sink by actively and passively increasing the efficiency of the thermoelectric assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable active temperature controlled container, comprising: a vessel for holding temperature sensitive goods; a thermoelectric assembly comprising at least one thermoelectric unit layer coupled to the vessel; a thermally conductive resistor spacer block coupled to the thermoelectric assembly opposite the vessel; and at least one resistor coupled to the resistor spacer block. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 1, wherein the at least one resistor is electrically coupled in series to the thermoelectric assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 1, wherein the at least one resistor is disposed within a recess formed in the resistor spacer block. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 1, wherein the temperature differential between a temperature of a cold side and a hot side of the thermoelectric assembly is less than or equal to 13° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 1, wherein a resistance of the thermoelectric assembly is in a range of 0.35-0.65 times a resistance of the at least one resistor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 1, wherein a resistance of the thermoelectric assembly is in a range of 0.25-0.50 times a resistance of the at least one resistor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric assembly is configured to operate with a coefficient of performance greater than or equal to 100%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 7, wherein the thermoelectric assembly is configured to operate with a coefficient of performance in a range of 150-300% during at least 80 percent of operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 1, wherein the portable active temperature controlled container is formed without a fan. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 9, wherein the portable active temperature controlled container is formed without a vent between the thermoelectric assembly and an exterior of the portable active temperature controlled container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric assembly is adapted to control a temperature of the temperature-sensitive goods within the vessel to within plus or minus 0.3° C. of a target temperature of 38.5° C. ### Claim 12 A portable active temperature controlled container, comprising: a vessel for holding temperature sensitive goods; a thermoelectric assembly comprising at least one thermoelectric unit layer coupled to the vessel, the thermoelectric assembly being configured to operate with a coefficient of performance greater than or equal to 100%; a thermally conductive resistor spacer block coupled to the thermoelectric assembly opposite the vessel; and at least one resistor coupled to the resistor spacer block. ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 12, wherein the temperature sensitive goods comprise: embryos, oocytes, cell cultures, tissue cultures, chondrocytes, nucleic acids, bodily fluids, bovine semen, organs, plant tissues, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and chemicals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 12, wherein the resistor spacer block comprises aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, or copper alloy and conducts heat generated by the at least one resistor towards a cold side of the at least one thermoelectric unit layer. ### Claim 16 A portable active temperature controlled container, comprising: a vessel for holding temperature sensitive goods; a thermoelectric assembly comprising at least one thermoelectric unit layer coupled to the vessel; a thermally conductive resistor spacer block coupled to the thermoelectric assembly opposite the vessel; and at least one resistor coupled to the resistor spacer block, wherein a resistance of the thermoelectric assembly is in a range of 0.35-0.65 times a resistance of the at least one resistor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 16, wherein the temperature differential between a temperature of a cold side and a hot side of the thermoelectric assembly is less than or equal to 13° C. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 17, wherein the at least one resistor is electrically coupled in series to the thermoelectric assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 17, wherein the at least one resistor is disposed within a recess formed in the resistor spacer block. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The portable active temperature controlled container of claim 17, wherein the portable active temperature controlled container is formed without a fan. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) A method of safely transporting temperature sensitive goods at a selected temperature profile during transport using the thermal protection system assembly of claim 16, comprising: placing the temperature sensitive goods in a thermal isolation chamber within the transportation device, the thermal isolation chamber adapted to thermally isolate the temperature sensitive goods from an outside environment; coupling the thermal isolation chamber to the stack of at least two thermoelectric modules; and controlling a temperature of the thermal isolation control system by activating the Peltier effect of the at least two thermoelectric modules.