Temperature sensing device for food storage container

Abstract

A temperature sensing device for a food storage container accurately detects the internal temperature of a storage chamber to achieve an accurate on/off control for heating and cooling cycles by minimizing a temperature fluctuation existing in the storage chamber. The temperature sensing device includes a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the storage chamber and generate an electrical signal representative of the sensed temperature; a control unit, having a microprocessor, to control the cooling system based on the electrical signal generated by the temperature sensor; and a metallic fixing bracket for fixing the temperature sensor to the inner liner at a position near an inlet portion of an evaporator receiving a cooled refrigerant from a condenser, such that the temperature sensor is in close contact with the outer surface of an inner liner of the storage chamber, to establish a thermally conductive path between the inner liner and the temperature sensor. The fixing bracket has a sensor housing for tightly receiving the temperature sensor therein; and at least one pipe receptacle integrally extended from the sensor housing and fitting tightly around a first pipe portion of the inlet portion of the evaporator, to establish a thermally conductive path from the first pipe portion to the temperature sensor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.