Apparatus and method for controlling humidity

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for allowing a user to control humidity level in a portion of a refrigeration unit containing a circulation pump, an oxygen removal filter, and at least one mixing valve operable to provide air to the intake port of the circulation pump, the air being received from at least one of air external to the refrigeration unit and air internal to the refrigeration unit, in order to adjust a humidity level of the air one or more separate internal portions of the refrigeration unit. The method describes extracting air from the internal portions, providing additional air to the extracted air, the additional air being an amount of air external to the refrigeration unit and / or air internal to the refrigeration unit, removing oxygen from the combination, and providing the oxygen-reduced humidity controlled air to the internal portions.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HUMIDITYTechnical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the preservation of consumable products and, more specifically, to the monitoring and control of humidity in refrigeration devices used for storage of consumable products, such as food items.Background

[0002] Any background information described herein is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to the present embodiments that are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0003] Most modern-day refrigerators utilize one or more compartments, such as crisper drawers, in which the moisture and temperature are controlled in an effort to extend the shelf life of certain types of food items, such as the fresh produce (e.g., fruits and vegetables), contained in the crisper drawers. For leafy items such as lettuce and spinach, it is advantageous to maintain a higher relative humidity, while for many other fruits and vegetables a lower relative humidity is desired. The refrigerator manufacturers have developed various techniques to achieve these results. Some are rather simple and straightforward, such as varying the openings in the drawers to either allow moisture to escape or keep moisture trapped inside. A more sophisticated approach is to use a more expensive humidifier / dehumidifier to control the drawer’s humidity.

[0004] Although these controlled systems offer some opportunity to control the humidity in the crisper drawers, none of these approaches recognize the further improvements in shelf-life that can be gained by reducing oxygen levels in the crisper drawers. A different approach, described in patent applications PCT / US2020 / 053592 and PCT / US2022 / 013419 (both entitled Food Preservation Method), that are hereby incorporated by reference, creates a low oxygen environment in the compartments used to store the item by removing oxygen from the air prior to the oxygen reduced air entering the storage compartments. This approach has been shown to offer a significant benefit in extending the shelf life of food items, such as fresh produce, over standard crisper drawers by reducing the oxygen level. However, reducing the oxygen level on its own, does not ensure the proper humidity level can also be maintained. For example, air, which is approximately 21 percent oxygen from outside of the device that contains the storage compartments,such as a refrigerator, is introduced into the system during the removal of oxygen. Unless this air is introduced during the oxygen removal process, a partial vacuum would be created. Therefore, air must be introduced in order to maintain atmospheric pressure. Also, it is sometimes advantageous to completely refresh or flush the compartment (i.e., by bringing new air into the compartment) prior to the removal of oxygen due to the buildup of ethylene or odors in the compartment. The air that is retrieved from outside the device will be at room temperature. As this air is cooled by the device, the humidity level of that air will rise, in some cases significantly, causing a potentially undesirable change in the humidity level in the oxygen-reduced air within the compartments. Therefore there is a need to provide a mechanism to control the level of humidity in portions of a refrigeration unit used for storing certain food items, such as crisper drawers, as part of an oxygen removal mechanism to extend the shelf life of those food items.Summary

[0005] According to one implementation, an apparatus for allowing a user to control humidity level in a portion of a refrigeration unit is described The apparatus includes a circulation pump having an intake port and a discharge port, the circulation pump used to circulate air, an oxygen removal filter having an intake port fluidically coupled to the discharge port of the circulation pump, the oxygen removal filter further having a first discharge port used to externally exhaust oxygen removed from the air to outside the refrigeration unit and a second discharge port used to provide oxygen depleted air to the refrigeration unit, and at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit having an intake port and an exhaust port, the intake port fluidically coupled to the second discharge port of the oxygen removal filter and the discharge port fluidly coupled to the intake port of the circulation pump, the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit receiving the oxygen depleted air from the oxygen removal filter. The apparatus further includes at least one mixing valve fluidically coupled to the intake port of the circulation pump, the mixing valve operable to provide air to the intake port of the circulation pump, the air being received from at least one of air external to the refrigeration unit and air internal to the refrigeration unit, in order to adjust a humidity level of the air in the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit.

[0006] According to another implementation, a method for controlling humidity level in a portion of a refrigeration unit containing an oxygen removal filter, a storage container for the consumable item, and a circulation pump is described. The method includes extracting air from at least one separate internal portion of a refrigeration unit using a circulation pump, providing additional air to the extracted air at an intake port of the circulation pump, the additional air being at least one of an amount of air external to therefrigeration unit entering through a first input port and an amount of air internal to the refrigeration unit through a second input port, removing oxygen from the combination of the additional air and the extracted air to produce oxygen-reduced air, and providing the oxygen-reduced air to the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit. The additional air is used to adjust a humidity level of the oxygen-reduced air provided to the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit.

[0007] According to another implementation, a refrigeration apparatus is disclosed. The refrigeration apparatus includes a cabinet having an outer frame and an inner frame, the inner frame forming the walls of a cavity, the cavity configured for storage of food and drink items, a refrigeration heat pump mechanically coupled to the cabinet, the refrigeration heat pump configured cool air inside the cavity by transferring heat from the air inside the cavity to outside of the cabinet using a refrigerant, and a humidity control device mechanically coupled to the cabinet. The humidity control device includes a circulation pump having an intake port and a discharge port, the circulation pump used to circulate air, an oxygen removal filter having an intake port fluidically coupled to the discharge port of the circulation pump, the oxygen removal filter further having a first discharge port used to externally exhaust oxygen removed from the air to outside the refrigeration unit and a second discharge port used to provide oxygen depleted air to the cavity in the refrigeration apparatus, and at least one separate internal portion of the cavity having an intake port and an exhaust port, the intake port fluidically coupled to the second discharge port of the oxygen removal filter and the discharge port fluidly coupled to the intake port of the circulation pump, the at least one separate internal portion of the cavity receiving the oxygen depleted air from the oxygen removal filter. The humidity control device further includes at least one mixing valve fluidically coupled to the intake port of the circulation pump, the mixing valve operable to provide air to the intake port of the circulation pump, the air being received from at least one of air external to the refrigeration unit and air internal to the refrigeration unit, in order to adjust a humidity level of the air in the at least one separate internal portion of the cavity.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings to which the principles of the present disclosure are applicable:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary refrigeration apparatus, according to aspects of the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary humidity control system used as part of a refrigeration unit, according to aspects of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 3A is a block diagram of another exemplary humidity control system used as part of a refrigeration unit, according to aspects of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 3B is a block diagram of a further exemplary humidity control system used as part of a refrigeration unit, according to aspects of the present disclosure; and

[0013] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an exemplary process for controlling humidity, according to aspects of the present disclosure.Detailed Description

[0014] All examples recited herein are intended to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosure and the concepts and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The functions of the various components shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some of which may be shared.

[0015] It should be understood that one or more the components shown in the figures may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, or combinations of one or more appropriately programmed general-purpose devices, Those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and are included within its scope.

[0016] The present disclosure addresses problems and drawbacks related to controlling humidity levels as part of a food preservation system operating in a low oxygen environment as part of a refrigeration unit or device. Reducing the level of oxygen present in the air in a separate enclosed environment containing fooditems, such as fruits and vegetables, that is located inside of the refrigeration unit or device can significantly slow the process of spoiling or rotting. Further, control of the humidity can be beneficial to extending the shelf life of the food items. Unfortunately, the methods used to remove oxygen from the enclosed environment, such as a storage container compartment, can also create drawbacks. The oxygen removal process requires air to be added into the circulation loop that includes the storage container or compartment for the food items, along with a circulation pump and an oxygen removal filter. The additional air is typically added from a point external to the refrigeration unit or device. However, this air will be at the temperature outside of the refrigeration unit or device. As the air is processed to reduce the oxygen level and introduced into the cooler enclosed environment inside the refrigeration unit or device, the humidity level will increase significantly with respect to the original humidity level at the outside temperature. As an example, air in a sealed container with a relative humidity of 60 percent at 72 degrees F, when cooled to 36 degrees F, will have an increased relative humidity of 100 percent. This high humidity may be fine for certain items, such as leafy vegetables, but most fruits and vegetables should be stored at lower relative humidities. In contrast, bringing in air from the already cooled, and in many cases already reduced level of humidity, refrigerator interior will lead to a lower humidity level in the storage container or compartment. The use of incorrect humidity levels can cause undesirable humidity effects in the enclosed environment potentially compromising its food preservation performance.

[0017] Accordingly, the present embodiments address these issues and drawbacks by introducing a humidity control mechanism incorporated as part of a food preservation system using oxygen reduced air that can incorporate the addition of air from external to the refrigeration unit or device as well as air from inside of the refrigeration unit or device. The humidity control mechanism includes a mixing valve that includes two input ports and is coupled to the input of a circulation pump used to form a circulation loop in conjunction with an oxygen removal filter and a storage compartment for storing food items (e.g., fruits and vegetables). The pressure control mechanism may be embodied in the form of a dual input control valve or mixing valve that can take in air through a first input port that is external to the refrigeration unit of device housing the humidity control mechanism and take in air through a second input port that is from the inside of the refrigeration unit. By combining one or both of the air external to the refrigeration unit or device and the air from inside the refrigeration unit or device with the air already circulating in and out of the storage compartment, the humidity level in the storage compartment can be controlled.

[0018] It is worth noting that the embodiments of the present disclosure focus on humidity control elements and processes for humidity control associated with refrigeration units or devices that store fooditems, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. However, the embodiments may also be applied to any item that can be considered a consumable item. For the purpose of the present embodiments, a consumable item may include many different types of items. For example, consumable items may include food items, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and other perishable or partially perishable items. Some of these food items may have shorter term self-lives whereas other food items may have longer term shelf-lives. Consumable items may also include liquid items, including beers, wines, milk, and other shorter-term or longer-term shelf-life liquid items that can be affected by environmental conditions. Additionally, consumable items may include other non-food or non-liquid items, such as flowers, clothing and shoes, as well as liquid or non-liquid cosmetics and treatments. Further, consumable items may include biological items, such as blood, plasma, tissues, and organs, as well pharmaceuticals, whether in liquid or non-liquid form. Any of these types of items, as well as others not listed, that can benefit from an oxygen depleted environment using pressure management and control may be considered consumable items.

[0019] Advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0020] Turning to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an exemplary refrigeration apparatus 100 used for cold storage and preservation of food and drink items in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure is shown. The refrigeration apparatus 100 may be used as a stand-alone device or may be incorporated into a larger system that includes multiple cold storage and / or preservation units. Refrigeration apparatus 100 includes a mechanical structure in the shape of a cuboid or rectangular piped composed of an outer frame 105, an inner frame 110, and door panel 115. The outer frame 105 and inner frame 110 are arranged to form an internal cavity that is used for storing the food and drink items. The door panel 115 is shown as spanning one entire side of the structure. In some embodiments, the door panel 115 may span more or less than one entire side. The door panel 115 may attach to the remaining structure using some form of a hinge structure (not shown) to allow the door panel 115 to open and close using a handle 116. A gasket element 117 is used to form a seal between the door panel and the remaining structure. The seal is designed to be air-tight but may, in some instances, only be partially air-tight. Within the cavity formed by the outer frame 105 and inner frame 110, a set of shelves 120a and 120b are positioned at various locations allowing placement of food and / or drink items inside. Additionally, a storage compartment 125 isincluded for storage of shorter shelf-life food and / or drink items, such as fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, cheeses, wine, and the like.

[0021] The refrigeration apparatus 100 further includes a compressor 130 that is fluidically coupled to a condenser unit 135. The compressor 130 is shown located in a compartment at the bottom of the structure of the refrigeration apparatus 100 between the outer frame 105 and inner frame 110. In some embodiments, the compressor may be located outside of the structure. The condenser unit 135 is fluidically coupled to a metering device 140. The condenser unit 135 and metering device 140 are shown located outside of the structure. The metering device 140 is fluidically coupled to an evaporator 145. The evaporator 145 is shown located in a compartment at the top of the structure between the outer frame 105 and inner frame 110. The evaporator 145 is fluidically coupled back to the compressor 130 forming a fluidic loop operating as a heat pump.

[0022] The heat pump elements in refrigeration apparatus 100 operate using a vapor compression cycle. In this cycle, a circulating refrigerant, such as R134a, enters compressor 130 as low-pressure vapor at or slightly below the temperature of the refrigerator interior. The vapor is compressed and exits the compressor as high-pressure superheated vapor. The superheated vapor travels under pressure through the condenser 135 and is passively cooled by exposure to air outside of the refrigeration apparatus 100 (i.e., in the surrounding environment). The condenser 135 cools the vapor, which liquefies. The refrigerant leaves the condenser 135 still under pressure but now slightly above room temperature. This liquid refrigerant is forced through the metering device 140, also known as an expansion valve to produce a liquid at much lower pressure. The sudden decrease in pressure results in flash evaporation of a portion (e.g., 50%) of the liquid. The latent heat absorbed by this flash evaporation is drawn mostly from adjacent still-liquid refrigerant, a phenomenon known as auto-refrigeration. This cold and partially vaporized refrigerant passes in the evaporator 145. The evaporator 145 completes refrigerant vaporization of the refrigerant, drawing further latent heat from the air inside the cavity of the structure. This cooled air is returned to the cavity through openings in the inner frame 110 and / or through convection to keep the air inside the cavity cold. The refrigerant, still colder than the air inside the cavity, leaves the evaporator 130, fully vaporized and slightly heated, and returns to the compressor 130 to continue the cycle.

[0023] Generally, the temperature of the cavity used to store the food and drink items in the refrigeration apparatus 100 may be kept above the freezing point for water, between 37 degrees Fahrenheit (F) and 50 degrees F. In some embodiments, the refrigeration apparatus 100 may operate as a freezer for storing food and drink items in a frozen state. In these instances, the operating cycle is the same as described above.However, one or more components may be structurally or functionally modified to increase the cooling transfer into the storage cavity. The temperature of the storage cavity in a freezer may be kept below freezing, such as at a temperature between -2 degrees F and -10 degrees F.

[0024] In some embodiments, the refrigeration apparatus 100 may have more than one separate storage cavity formed into the structure. For example, the refrigeration apparatus 100 may include two cavities, one operating above freezing and one operating below freezing. In some of these embodiments, a single evaporator 145 is located nearest the cavity that operates below freezing and the cold air is transferred through some form of air convection to the cavity that operates above freezing. In other embodiments, the refrigeration apparatus 100 may include two separate fluidic loops, one for each of the two cavities, containing the elements described above. In some embodiments, additional air flow may be created through one or both of the condenser 135 and evaporator 145 by using a fan. In some embodiments, the temperature of the cavity may be mechanically or electronically controlled by turning on and off the compressor and shutting off the vapor cycle. It is worth noting that several components and interconnections necessary for complete operation of apparatus 100, either as a standalone device or incorporated as part of another device, are not shown in the interest of conciseness, as the components not shown are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0025] The refrigeration apparatus 100 further includes a humidity controller 150 fluidically coupled in a loop to the storage compartment 125 contained within a portion of the cavity in refrigeration apparatus 100. The humidity controller 150 adjusts the humidity level in the storage compartment 125 in order to maintain the humidity at a predetermined level. In most instances, this humidity level is lower than the humidity level that may exist in the remaining portion of the storage cavity in the refrigeration apparatus 100. In operation, a circulation pump in the humidity controller 150 circulates air in a loop that also includes an oxygen removal filter used to remove oxygen from the circulating air prior to the air entering the storage compartment 125. The loop also allows air from inside the storage compartment 125 to return to the circulation pump. An air mixing valve, also referred to as a dual input pressure controller, in the humidity controller 150 is used to further control the introduction of either or both of air from outside of the refrigeration apparatus 100 and air from the remaining portion of the internal cavity of the refrigeration apparatus 100 into the loop. This air is provided at the input of the circulation pump, along with the air returning from the storage compartment 125. The introduction of additional air from outside the refrigeration apparatus 100 and / or inside the refrigeration apparatus 100 allows the humidity level of the air entering the storage compartment to be adjusted to a level that is different from the humidity level in the remainingportion of the refrigeration apparatus 100. For example, if the humidity level needs to be increased or raised, then air from outside the refrigeration apparatus 100 is added to the circulating air through the air mixing valve. If, instead, the humidity needs to be decreased or lowered, then air from inside the remaining portion of the cavity of the refrigeration apparatus 100 is added to the circulating air through the air mixing valve. Additional aspects of the operation of a humidity controller similar to humidity controller 150 in conjunction with storage compartments, similar to storage compartment 125 will be described in further detail below.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, storage compartment 125 is configured as a container structure with a lid. Such configuration may be referred to as a crisper bin. In other embodiments, the storage compartment may be configured as a different structure. For example, storage compartment 125 may be configured as a storage drawer within a walled enclosure within the internal cavity of the refrigeration apparatus 100, similar to the crisper drawers described above. In another example, storage compartment 125 may be configured as a walled off structure within the internal cavity, the structure having an openable door panel on one side of the structure. In still another example, the storage compartment 125 may be configured as a walled off structure within the internal cavity with the openable door form as part of the door panel 115. Such a configuration allows a user to open the storage compartment 125 from outside of the refrigeration apparatus 100 rather than having to open the door panel 115 to open storage compartment 125.

[0027] It is worth noting that more than one storage compartment 125 may be included in refrigeration apparatus 100. In some embodiments, each of the storage compartments 125 may be coupled in series and connected to the same humidity controller 150. Further, each of the storage compartments 125 may use the same humidity controller that is switched or multiplexed between the storage compartments. In other embodiments, each one of the storage compartments 125 may include a separate humidity controller 150. In this manner each one of the storage compartments may operate having different humidity levels.

[0028] It is further worth noting that refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 is shown configured to operate in a vertical orientation, having the long side of the rectangular used to form the cuboid or rectangular piped oriented vertically with respect to the support plane of the refrigeration apparatus 100. In some embodiments, refrigeration apparatus 100 may be configured to operate in a horizontal orientation with the short side oriented with respect to the support plane. The relative position and / or location of one or more of the elements described as refrigeration apparatus 100 may change, however, the overall operation and functionality of those elements remain similar to that described above.

[0029] Turning to FIG. 2, a block diagram of an exemplary humidity control system 200 used as part of a refrigeration apparatus in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure is shown. Humidity control system 200 may operate in a manner similar to that described for humidity controller 150 in conjunction with storage compartment 125 as part of refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG. 1. Further, humidity control system 200 may be included as part of other types of refrigeration units or devices, including mobile transportation refrigeration units (e.g., a refrigerated or environmentally controlled box truck or semi-trailer, a refrigerated or environmentally controlled shipping container, and the like).

[0030] Humidity control system 200 includes a refrigeration device 205 and a humidity controller 250 coupled in a manner similar to that described above in FIG. 1. More specifically, humidity controller 250 includes a circulation pump 210 that is fluidically coupled to an oxygen removal filter 220. The oxygen removal filter 215 is fluidically coupled to a storage compartment 225, included as part of refrigeration device 250 as described above. The storage container 225 is fluidically coupled back to the circulation pump 210. The arrangement of the circulation pump 210, oxygen removal filter 215, and storage container 225 in humidity controller 250 form a fluid loop allowing air to flow between the elements. An additional dual input pressure control mechanism 245 is fluidically coupled into the union between storage compartment 225 and circulation pump 210. The dual input pressure control mechanism 245 includes a first air inlet coupled to a first valve for receiving air from outside of the refrigeration device 205. The dual input pressure control mechanism 245 also includes a second air inlet coupled to a second valve for receiving air from inside the refrigeration device 205 (e.g., the storage cavity described above in FIG. 1). The dual input pressure control mechanism 245 allows for the introduction of one or both of air from outside of the refrigeration device 205 and air from inside the storage cavity of the refrigeration device 205. Further, oxygen removal filter 215 includes a second discharge port allowing the oxygen removed from the air to be discharged outside of the refrigeration device 205.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the humidity controller 250 is positioned outside of the refrigeration device 205 and the storage compartment 225 is positioned inside the refrigeration device 205. The second air inlet for the dual input pressure control mechanism 345 is also positioned inside the refrigeration apparatus. In some embodiments, one or more of the components included in humidity controller 250 may be positioned inside of the refrigeration device 205. For example, the circulation pump 210 may be positioned between the outer frame and inner frame of the refrigeration device 205, such as between outer frame 105 and inner frame 210 in a manner similar to compressor 130 in FIG. 1. The fluidic coupling between the elements in FIG. 2 may be embodied using one or more of rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible hoses capable of holding andcarrying air and mechanically attached to the elements. It is worth noting that several components and interconnections necessary for complete operation of humidity controller 250, either as a standalone device or incorporated as part of another device, are not shown in the interest of conciseness, as the components not shown are well known to those skilled in the art. Further, it is worth noting that several components and interconnections necessary to complete operation of refrigeration device 205 are not shown here in the interest of conciseness as these were described above or are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0032] Circulation pump 210 is a type of pump used to circulate air in a circulation loop that has only small or modest elevation changes. This type of pump may provide high flow rate with a lower pressure, generally limited to overcome friction forces in the circulation loop. In some embodiments, circulation pump 210 may be a sealed unit having a motor rotor, pump impeller, and support bearings combined within the fluid circuit or path. In some embodiments, circulation pump 210 may be power rated at a fraction of one horsepower. For example, circulation pump 210 may be rated at one quarter horsepower or less. For larger storage container applications, a higher pump capacity may be needed, requiring a higher horsepower circulation pump. The expected flow rate, in liters per minute (Ipm), versus pressure for circulation pump 210 in a circulation loop similar to that shown in FIG. 2 is provided in TABLE 1 below.TABLE 1

[0033] Oxygen removal filter 215 utilizes an oxygen reducing material to extract oxygen from the air. The air that is incoming from the circulation pump 210 is passed through the oxygen reducing material creating oxygen reduced or depleted air at pressure level needed to perform the removal. The oxygen reduced or depleted air is pushed out of the oxygen removal filter 215 towards storage compartment 225. As shown in FIG. 2, some or all of the oxygen that is removed from the air may be exhausted external to the refrigeration apparatus (e.g., refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG. 1) during normal operation. In other embodiments, the oxygen may remain contained within the oxygen removal filter 215 and / or may be removed or exhausted during a recycling or recharging process. The oxygen removal filter 215 may use an oxygen reducing material that is one time disposable or rechargeable multi use material. In some embodiments, the oxygen reducing material may be contained in a cartridge that can be removed and replaced in the oxygen removal filter 215. In some embodiments, the oxygen removal filter 215 may include an additional treatment for the oxygen reducing material, such as heat treatment or ultra-violet (UV) treatment, so that the oxygen can be released from the oxygen removal filter 215, as described above. The oxygen reducing material may then be reused to continue removing oxygen from the fluid. The additional treatment allows the recharging to be performed within humidity controller 200. It is worth noting that although oxygen removal filter 215 is described as using oxygen removing material, other techniques for oxygen removal may be possible including, but not limited to, vacuum based removal, chemical adsorbing or electric field-based removal.

[0034] Storage compartment 225 may be constructed from any non-permeable or nearly non-permeable material and may be shaped into any form suitable for storage of food and / or drink items within refrigeration device 205. Examples of non-permeable or nearly non-permeable materials include, but are not limited to, glass, high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the like. In some embodiments, storage compartment 225 may be formed in two portions as a container and a lid. The lid may be completely removable and reclosable from the container or may be coupled to the container in some manner, such as with hinges and a latch. In order to improve the sealing and permeability properties between the container and the lid, a sealing element may be included where the container and lid surfaces interface. As shown in FIG. 2, storage compartment 225 is in the form of a cuboid or rectangular piped as a container and lid that is used to store food items, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. In other embodiments, storage compartment 225 may be in a different form, such as one of the configurations described above in FIG. 1.

[0035] Dual input pressure control mechanism 245 is a fluid flow valve having two intake or input ports coupled to two valves, along with a discharge port and a mechanism to manage or control a pressure difference between one or more of the input ports and the discharge port. One or more types of fluid flow valves or mechanisms may be used. In some embodiments, one or both of the inputs in dual input pressure control mechanism 145 may include one-way valves, such as check valves, one-way valves allow airflow in only one direction, mechanically opening or closing depending on the pressure difference between the associated input port and the discharge port. In some instances, the one-way valve may include a pressure monitor that opens and closes the valve based on a specific air pressure value at either the input port or discharge port. Further, the specific air pressure that changes the state of the valve may be mechanically adjustable. Still further, the opening and closing of the valve may be controlled electronically. One-way valves are often referred to as “on / off” valves or “digital” valves due to their operational nature.

[0036] In some embodiments, the two inputs of the dual input pressure control mechanism 245 may use a double-check valve or a shuttle valve. These valves are designed to direct air flows from either of two input sources into a common discharge port, depending on pressure levels at the inputs. The shuttle valve has a movable shuttle to seal off the lower pressure source, while the disc type has a movable disc. When air under pressure reaches either end of the double-check valve, the moving shuttle or disc responds to the pressure and seals the opposite input if it is greater than the other. The air flow continues through the double-check valve’s distribution port. If the pressures are reversed, the shuttle or disk position will reverse, allowing air to flow through the other input. In some instances, the pressure level switching point may be mechanically adjustable and / or electronically controllable.

[0037] In some embodiments, the dual input pressure control mechanism 245 may include a single valve that is positioned at the union between the two inputs. This single valve can direct a percentage of the total airflow coming through each of the two inputs. For example, the single valve can be adjusted to allow air only from the first input. The single valve can also be adjusted to allow air only from the second input. Further the single valve can be adjusted to allow a portion of the air from the first input (e.g., 40 percent) with the remaining portion coming from the second input (e.g., 60%).

[0038] In some embodiments, one or both of the inputs in the dual input pressure control mechanism 245 may include pressure regulators. Pressure regulators are typically preset or use a mechanical setting to hold a constant pressure at one or both of the input ports and / or the discharge port. Pressure regulators are typically less expensive than one-way valves described above. However, pressure regulators are more difficult to control, particularly when in use. In some instances, the pressure regulator may include apressure value monitor that can provide an output as an electronic signal. Pressure regulators may often be referred to as “analog valves”. In some embodiments, one or both of the inputs of the dual input pressure control mechanism 245 may include a combination of an on / off valve, as described above, in series with a pressure regulator. Such an approach might be beneficial or even required in some instances. As an example, the pressure on the input of circulation pump 210 might sometimes be higher than atmospheric pressure. By including a one-way valve in series with the pressure regulator as part of dual input pressure control mechanism 245 that only allows fluid (e.g., air) flow into the pressure control mechanism preventing the oxygen reduced fluid in the circulation loop from escaping into the atmosphere.

[0039] In some embodiments, the dual input pressure control regulator 245 may include a valve or pressure regulator in the discharge port. This valve or pressure regulator is configured to control the overall flow of air, provided from one or both of the first input port and the second input port separate from the control of air entering the first input port and the second input port.

[0040] In operation, circulation pump 210 provides air, as part of a circulation loop, to oxygen removal filter 215. The oxygen removal filter removes at least a portion of the oxygen from the air provided by circulation pump 210. Some or all of the removed oxygen may be discharged through the first discharge port on oxygen removal filter 215. In some embodiments, the removed oxygen may remain in the oxygen removal filter 215 until it is discharged through the second discharge port as part of a recharge mechanism as described above. The oxygen reduced air from the oxygen removal filter is provided through the first discharge port to the intake port on the storage compartment 225. In some embodiments, an air pressure adjustment or control mechanism may be included, either as part of the first discharge port of the oxygen removal filter 215, the intake port of the storage compartment 225, or as a separate element between the oxygen removal filter 215 and the storage compartment 225. The oxygen depleted air flows into the storage compartment 225 through the intake port and flows out of the storage compartment 225 through a discharge port. The oxygen depleted air exiting the storage compartment is provided back to the intake port of the circulation pump 210 for circulation back to the oxygen removal filter 215.

[0041] Further, additional air is provided to the intake port of the circulation pump through the dual input pressure control mechanism 245. The additional air includes one or both of an amount of air from outside of refrigeration device 205 entering the first air inlet and an amount of air from inside the refrigeration device 205 entering the second air inlet. The amount entering the first air inlet and the second air inlet is controlled by the valve setting at each air inlet on the dual input pressure control mechanism 245. The total amount of air provided to circulation pump 210 is controlled by the combination of valve settings. As described above,the humidity level of the air inside of refrigeration device 205 can be different from the humidity level of the external air, especially when the external air is cooled. In most cases, the cooler air from inside the refrigeration device 205 has a lower humidity level than the external air, which will have a rising humidity level as it is cooled. By adjusting the amount of air provided through the first air inlet versus the amount of air through the second inlet, the humidity level of the air circulating to the storage compartment 225 can be changed and controlled. For example, if the humidity level needs to be increased, more of or all of the air provided to the circulation pump 210 may be provided through the first air inlet. In contrast, if the humidity level needs to be decreased, more of or all of the air provided to the circulation pump 210 may be provided through the second air inlet.

[0042] It is also worth noting that the additional air from outside the refrigeration device 205 can be at a higher temperature than the additional air from inside the refrigeration device 205. The difference in temperature between the external air and internal air may raise the temperature of the storage compartment 225 and / or the refrigeration device itself as it is provided to the storage compartment 225, depending on the amount of external air that is added. In order to address this issue, the external air may be cooled as part of the additional external air entering the humidity controller 205 and before entering the storage compartment 225. For example, the external air may be passed through fluid lines within a portion of the refrigeration device prior to entering the dual input pressure control mechanism 345. As a result, the temperature in the storage compartment 225 can remain at or near the temperature of the refrigeration device 205 and no further cooling or pressure reduction is needed.

[0043] In some embodiments, the control of the humidity may be controlled by a user by directly adjusting the valve settings at each air inlet on the dual input pressure control mechanism 245. For example, a mechanical adjustment element may be attached to the valves that adjusts the ratio of air through each of the valves. In some embodiments, a humidity monitor may be included within the storage compartment 225 to assist the user in setting the humidity control. For example, the humidity monitor may be a mechanical gauge, similar to a thermometer. In another example, the humidity monitor may be electronic and include a display of the humidity level.

[0044] Further, Storage compartment 225 is shown as being fluidically coupled using hoses in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, such as by using either non-removable or non-replaceable mechanical fittings. Although not shown, in some embodiments, storage compartment 225 may utilize some form of removable couplers or connectors, such as quick-disconnect connectors, on the ends of hoses and on the storage compartment 225 to facilitate easy removal and replacement. Types ofquick-disconnect connectors include, but are not limited to, ball and sleeve, cam-lock, Luer lock, and push-to-connect. In some embodiments, the quick-disconnect connectors may self-seal when not coupled to allow removal and replacement of storage compartment 225 without compromising the environment inside storage compartment 225.

[0045] Turning to FIG. 3A, a block diagram of another exemplary humidity control system 300 used as part of a refrigeration apparatus in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure is shown. Humidity control system 300 may operate in a manner similar to that described for humidity controller 150 in conjunction with storage compartment 125 as part of refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG. 1. Additionally, one or more aspects of humidity control system 300 may operate in a manner similar to humidity control system 200 described in FIG. 2. Further, humidity control system 300 may be included as part of other types of refrigeration units, including mobile transportation refrigeration units (e.g., a refrigerated or environmentally controlled box truck or semi-trailer, a refrigerated or environmentally controlled shipping container, and the like).

[0046] Humidity control system 300 includes a refrigeration device 305 and a humidity controller 350 coupled in a manner similar to that described above in FIG. 2. More specifically, a circulation pump 310 is fluidically coupled to an oxygen removal filter 315. The oxygen removal filter 315 is fluidically coupled to a pressure control mechanism 320. The pressure control mechanism 320 is fluidically coupled to a storage compartment 325. The circulation pump 310 is also fluidically coupled to an ozone generator 360. The ozone generator 360 is further fluidically coupled to the storage compartment 325. The storage compartment 325 is fluidically coupled to pressure control mechanism 335 The pressure control mechanism 335 is fluidically coupled to the circulation pump 310. The arrangement of the circulation pump 310, oxygen removal filter 315, pressure control regulator 320, storage compartment 325, and pressure control regulator 335 elements in humidity controller 300 form a fluid loop allowing air to flow, at controlled air pressures between the elements. An additional dual input pressure control mechanism 345 is fluidically coupled into the union between pressure control mechanism 335 and circulation pump 310. The dual input pressure control mechanism 345 includes a first input port and a second input port that allows for the introduction of one or both of air external to the refrigeration apparatus and air from inside the storage cavity in the refrigeration apparatus. The dual input pressure control mechanism 345 further includes a discharge port that allows the mixture of external air and air from inside the storage cavity to be combined with the air circulated through the fluid by the circulation pump 310. Each of the input ports on the dual input pressure control mechanism include an air filter 347 and 348, respectively. Further, oxygen removalfilter 315 includes a discharge port allowing the oxygen removed from the air to be passed out of oxygen removal filter 315, as described above.

[0047] The humidity controller 350 further includes a processor 380. Processor 380 is electrically coupled to a memory 390. Processor 380 is further electrically coupled to a pressure sensor element and pressure adjustment element of each of pressure control mechanism 320, pressure control mechanism 335, and dual input pressure control mechanism 345. Processor 380 is also electrically coupled to circulation pump 310 as well as the ozone generator 260. Processor 380 is also electrically coupled to a humidity sensor 370 located inside the storage compartment 325 as well as a temperature monitor 355. Processor 380 is additionally electrically coupled to memory 390.

[0048] It is worth noting that several components and interconnections necessary for complete operation of humidity controller 350, either as a standalone device or incorporated as part of another device, are not shown in the interest of conciseness, as the components not shown are well known to those skilled in the art. Further, it is worth noting that several components and interconnections necessary to complete operation of refrigeration device 305 are not shown here in the interest of conciseness as these were described above or are well known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, except as described below, the structure, orientation, and operation of any elements not described for humidity controller 350 are similar to the structure, orientation, and operation of those same elements described for humidity controller 250 in FIG. 2 above and will not be described in further detail here.

[0049] Pressure control mechanisms 320 and 335 are fluid flow valves having an intake port and discharge port and a mechanism to manage or control a pressure difference between the input port and the discharge port. One or more types of fluid flow valves or mechanisms may be used. In some embodiments, one or both of pressure control mechanisms 320 and 335 may be one-way valves, such as check valves. One-way valves allow fluid flow in only one direction, mechanically opening or closing depending on the pressure difference between the input port and the discharge port. In some instances, the one-way valve may include a pressure monitor that opens and closes the valve based on a specific fluid pressure value at either the input port or discharge port. Further, the specific fluid pressure that changes the state of the valve may be mechanically adjustable. Still further, the opening and closing of the valve may be controlled electronically. One-way valves are often referred to as “on / off” valves or “digital” valves due to their operational nature.

[0050] In some embodiments, one or both of pressure control mechanisms 320 and 335 may be pressure regulators. Pressure regulators are typically preset or use a mechanical setting to hold a constant pressureat one or both of the input port and discharge port. Pressure regulators are typically less expensive than one-way valves described above. However, pressure regulators are more difficult to control, particularly when in use. In some instances, the pressure regulator may include a pressure value monitor that can provide an output as an electronic signal. Pressure regulators may often be referred to as “analog valves”. In some embodiments, one or both of pressure control mechanisms 320 and 335 may include a combination of an on / off valve, as described above, in series with a pressure regulator.

[0051] Air filters 347 and 348 are used to prevent particles, such as dust, dander, soot, and smoke, from entering the intake ports of the dual input pressure control mechanism. One or both of the filters 347 and 348 may be made from various air permeable materials including, but not limited to, coarse weave paper or cloth, cotton, carbon mat, and the like. In some embodiments, one or both of the air filters 347 and 348 may include an air quality rating or particulate matter rating. In some embodiments, one or both of the air filters 347 and 348 may be omitted. In some embodiments, one or both of the air filters 347 and 348 may be mounted to the structure of refrigeration device 205. For example, air filter 347 may be mounted to the outer surface of the outer frame (e.g., outer frame 105 described in FIG. 1) and air filter 348 may be mounted on the inner surface of an inner frame (e.g., inner frame 110). In some embodiments air filter 347 and 348 may be replaced by a single air filter attached internal to the discharge port of the dual input pressure control mechanism 345 or alternatively attached internal to the dual input pressure control mechanism 345, such as at the input of the mixing valve portion.

[0052] Ozone generator 360 provides a sanitization mechanism for the air and surfaces inside air, surfaces, hoses and air couplings particularly associated with the storage compartment 325. The process of sanitizing, or disinfecting, the surfaces of the elements in the humidity controller 305 and the storage compartment 325, helps to remove odors from the fluid loop and storage compartment 325 as well as reduce the buildup of undesirable gases, such as ethylene, that may be released by the materials used in those components. Ozone generator 360, once activated, is capable of generating ozone levels above 5 parts per million (PPM) in a few seconds and will destroy bacteria within just a few minutes. In some embodiments, ozone generator 360 may be replaced by an alternate sanitization system, such as an ionic purifier and a chlorine dioxide sanitizer. Processor 380 is configured to provide operational control of humidity controller 300. The operational control includes maintaining a proper air pressure at various points within the fluid loop described above. Processor 380 receives pressure values from the pressure sensor elements in pressure control mechanism 320 and pressure control mechanism 335, as well as from dual input pressure control mechanism 345. Processor 380 further provides control signals for operating thepressure control elements on pressure control mechanism 325, pressure control mechanism 335, and pressure control mechanism 345 based on the received pressure values. For example, if the pressure value received from sensor element in pressure control mechanism 320 exceeds a threshold pressure used by processor 380, processor 380 provides a control signal to the pressure control element of pressure control mechanism 320 to open accordingly in order to maintain the pressure value at the threshold value. If the received pressure value drops below the specified or preset pressure value, processor 380 provides a control signal to the pressure control element to close in order to elevate the pressure towards the threshold value.

[0053] Similarly, if the pressure value received from the pressure sensor element in pressure control mechanism 335 by processor 380 exceeds a threshold pressure value, processor 380 provides a control signal to the pressure control element in the pressure control mechanism 335 to open accordingly in order to maintain the pressure value at the threshold value. If the received pressure value drops below the specified or preset container pressure, processor 380 provides a control signal to the pressure control element to close in order to elevate the pressure towards the threshold value.

[0054] Further, if the pressure value received from the pressure sensor element in dual input pressure control mechanism 345 sensed at the input to circulation pump 310 by processor 380 is below a specified or preset level, processor 380 provides a control signal to the pressure control element in the pressure control mechanism 345 to open at the output port accordingly in order to maintain the pressure value at the threshold value. If the received pressure value rises above the specified or preset level at the input to the circulation pump 310, the processor 380 provides a control signal to the pressure control element to close at the output port, preventing external fluid from entering, in order to decrease and maintain the threshold value. In some embodiments, the specified or preset level of pressure may be a negative atmospheric pressure, such as between -0.05 and -2 psi.

[0055] Processor 380 is additionally configured to provide humidity control for the storage compartment 325. Processor 380 receives humidity values from humidity sensor 370. Processor 380 further provides a control signal for operating the pressure control elements on pressure control mechanism 345 based on the received pressure values. For example, if the humidity value from the humidity sensor 370 and received by processor 380 is below a desired or threshold humidity value, processor 380 provides a control signal to dual input pressure sensor 345 to allow more air through the first input port (i.e. , external air) and / or less air through the second input port (i.e., inside air). If the humidity value received by processor 380 is above the desired or threshold humidity value, processor 380 provides a control signal to dual input pressure sensor345 to allow less air through the first input port and / or more air through the second input port. The desired or threshold humidity levels may be set by a user directly as a humidity level through an electronic interface, such as through a user interface on the storage compartment or on the refrigeration unit (e.g., refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG. 1). The desired or threshold humidity levels may alternatively be determined by processor 380 based on indirect input from a user through an electronic menu interface. Such an interface may include types of food items that are stored in the storage compartment 325. The user selects one or more of the items from the menu list and processor 380 determines a threshold humidity level suitable for those one or more items. It is worth noting that, in some embodiments, the control of the dual input pressure sensor 345 by the processor 380 for adjusting humidity may be carried out in conjunction with control of the dual input pressure sensor 345 for adjusting pressure as described above.

[0056] It is worth noting that using room temperature air from outside the refrigerator as part of humidity control will be cooled when it is provided through the circulation loop to the storage compartment 325 inside the refrigeration unit (e.g., refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG. 1). As the warm air cools, the gases contract, causing the pressure in the storage compartment 325 to be reduced. The same issue can occur when the door on the refrigeration unit is opened and the storage compartment 325 is also opened to place or retrieve food items from inside. Further, one or more different configurations for storage compartment 325, as described above, may not be capable of maintaining an airtight seal all of the time. As this external air is being drawn into the storage compartment cools, the pressure in the storage compartment 325 is similarly reduced. As an example, if the room temperature air is 72 degrees F but is cooled to 36 degrees, the amount of air drawn into the container will represent 6.8% of the volume. In addition, unlike the air entering as part of controlling humidity, which is oxygen reduced, the external air directly entering the storage compartment 325 is not oxygen reduced. In this same example, if the oxygen level was initially reduced to a desired or specified level of 1 % at the end of the oxygen removal process, the final oxygen level will increase to 2.3% due to air drawn in directly. Further, external air entering the storage compartment 325 is also higher in temperature than the cooler processed air that is in the storage compartment 325. For example, air directly entering the storage compartment 325 at 72 degrees F, when cooled to 36 degrees, may reduce the pressure in storage compartment 325 by as much as 1 psi. In order to address this issue, the pressure level in the storage compartment 325 at the end of the oxygen removal process can be increased to a positive pressure. The increase in pressure may offset some or all the pressure reduction that will occur as a result of cooling the air that has directly entered the storage compartment 325. Tofurther control humidity levels and pressures associated with the introduction of external air, processor 380 may be configured to delay turning on the circulation pump 310 for a short period of time (e.g., 5 minutes) following the user closing the door of the refrigeration unit. The delay allows the temperature inside the storage compartment 325 to stabilize prior to resuming operation of humidity controller 305.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3A, humidity sensor 370 is inside of the storage compartment 325. In some embodiments, humidity sensor 370 may be located at a different position within the refrigeration device 305. For example, humidity sensor 370 may be located in a fluid coupling hose or line that attaches to storage compartment 325.

[0058] Processor 380 may also be configured to control the operation of ozone generator 360 as part of disinfecting the storage compartment 325 as described above. In some embodiments, processor 380 may be configured to regularly and / or periodically operate ozone generator 360 during normal operation of humidity controller 300. For example, processor 380 may turn on ozone generator 360 for 10 seconds once every hour during normal operation. In some embodiments, the regular and / or periodic operation may not be limited only to normal operation of the humidity controller 300. In some embodiments, processor 380 may be configured to operate ozone generator 360 at set times. In some embodiments, processor 380 may be configured to operate ozone generator 360 based on an input from a user, such as through a user interface as described above.

[0059] Processor 380 further may provide a control signal to circulation pump 310 in order to control its operation. In some embodiments, the control may include turning circulation pump 310 on and off at different times, such as part of the process of turning on and off the operation of humidity controller 305. The control may also include the ability to change the operating speed of circulation pump 310 in order to change the flow rate and / or pressure generated by circulation pump 310. Additionally, processor 380 may receive temperature values from temperature sensor 355. In some embodiments, these temperature values may be used to adjust the operation of the humidity controller 305. For example, the received temperature values may be used to adjust the threshold values used by processor 380 for one or more of the pressure control mechanism 320, pressure control mechanism 335, and pressure control mechanism 345. As shown, temperature sensor 355 is positioned to monitor the temperature of the fluid entering pressure control mechanism 335. In other embodiments, the temperature controller 355 may be positioned at a different location. Further, in some embodiments, more than one temperature sensor 355 may be included as part of humidity controller 305.

[0060] It is worth noting that the processor 380 may provide the control signal to the pressure control element of one or more of the pressure control mechanism 320, pressure control mechanism 335, and pressure control mechanism 345 based on comparing the associated pressure value to two different threshold values, one threshold value associated with opening the pressure control element and a second threshold value associated with closing the pressure control element.

[0061] Processor 380 may be a programmable microprocessor that is reconfigurable with downloadable instructions or software code stored in memory 390. Processor 380 may alternatively be a specifically programmed controller and data processor with internal control code for controlling, managing, and processing all functions and data in humidity controller 305. Although not shown, processor 380 may also be operative to receive and process user input signals provided via a user interface.

[0062] As used herein, the term “processor” broadly refers to and is not limited to a single- or multi-core general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a processor, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), one or more Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), an SOC, and / or a state machine.

[0063] Memory 390 supports the data processing functions in processor 380 and also serves as storage for applications, programs, control code and data information. Memory 390 may include one or more of the following storage elements including, but not limited to, RAM, ROM, Electrically-Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), and flash memory. Memory 390 may also encompass one or more integrated memory elements including, but not limited to, magnetic media hard disk drives and optical media disk drives.

[0064] Turning to FIG. 3B, a block diagram of a further exemplary humidity control system 300 used as part of a refrigeration apparatus in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure is shown. Humidity control system 300 may operate in a manner similar to that described for humidity controller 150 in conjunction with storage compartment 125 as part of refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG. 1. Additionally, one or more aspects of humidity control system 300 may operate in a manner similar to humidity control system 200 described in FIG. 2. Further, humidity control system 300 may be included as part of other types of refrigeration units, including mobile transportation refrigeration units (e.g., a refrigerated or environmentally controlled box truck or semi-trailer, a refrigerated or environmentally controlled shipping container, and the like).

[0065] Humidity control system 300 includes all the same components shown in FIG. 3A, but shows an alternate configuration for ozone generator 360 as an alternate embodiment. More particularly, in FIG. 3B, the input of the ozone generator 360 is fluidically coupled to the output of pressure control mechanism 320 instead of the output of circulation pump 310, as shown in FIG. 3A. In this manner, the ozone generator 360 processes pressure regulated oxygen-reduced air provided from the pressure control mechanism 320 instead of the air provided from the circulation pump 310. All other functionality and operational characteristics of humidity control system 300 in FIG. 3B remain the same as those described above in FIG. 3A.

[0066] Turning to FIG. 4, a flow chart of an exemplary process 400 for controlling humidity in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure is described. Process 400 is primarily described with respect to a humidity controller, such as humidity control system 200 described in FIG. 2 operating in conjunction with a device or unit used for refrigeration of food and drink items (e.g., refrigeration apparatus 100 described in FIG. 1). Some or all of process 400 may also be used with other types of humidity controllers, such as humidity control system 300 described in FIG. 3A or FIG., 3B. Further, some or all of the process 400 may be combined with other processes used in other types of apparatuses and devices. Additionally, one or more of the steps of process 400 may be implemented in one or more of the processing elements in a processor, such as processor 380 described in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B. Although process 400 depicts steps performed in a particular order for purposes of illustration and discussion, the operations discussed herein are not limited to any particular order or arrangement. One skilled in the art, using the disclosure provided herein, will also appreciate that one or more of the steps of process 400 may be omitted, rearranged, combined, and / or adapted in various ways.

[0067] At step 410, The circulation pump (e.g., circulation pump 210 in FIG. 2) is initialized or started by turning on or otherwise applying electrical power. The circulation pump may be initialized as part of turning on the apparatus (e.g., refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG. 1) or through a control signal provided by a processor (e.g., processor 380 in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B) based on, for example, a user input. The circulation pump begins moving the air in the loop towards the input of an oxygen removal filter (e.g., oxygen removal filter 215).

[0068] At step 420, as a result of the air circulation in the loop, air from inside one or more storage compartments (e.g., storage compartment 225) is extracted and moved towards the input of the circulation pump. At step 430, a determination is made as to whether the humidity level of the air from inside the one or more storage compartments needs to be adjusted. In some embodiments, a user may provide an inputto change the level of humidity in one or more of the storage compartments based on an inspection of food items inside one or more of the storage compartments. Further, in some embodiments, a humidity monitor may be included within the storage compartment 225 to assist the user in setting the humidity control. In some embodiments, a processor (e.g., processor 380 in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B) may determine that an adjustment to the humidity level is needed based on an input from the user through a user interface similar to that described above.

[0069] If, at step 430, the determination is made that an adjustment to the humidity level is needed, then, at step 440, additional air is added and combined with the air extracted from the one or more storage compartments, at step 420. The additional air includes air that is external to the refrigeration unit (e.g., refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG. 1) and provided through a first input port on a pressure control mechanism (e.g., dual input pressure control mechanism 245). The additional air also includes air that is internal to the refrigeration unit but not from the one or more storage compartments and provided through a second input port on the pressure control mechanism. The amount of one or both of the external air and internal air that is added to the air extracted from the one or more storage compartments is adjusted by adjusting a control valve or similar regulation mechanism for each of the input ports on the pressure control mechanism. In some embodiments, the adjustment may be determined and made by an input from the user. For example, the adjustment may involve moving a mechanical lever coupled to the mixing or dual input pressure control mechanism to increase or decrease the humidity level as described above. In some embodiments, a processor (e.g., processor 380 in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B) may receive humidity values from a humidity sensor (e.g., humidity sensor 370), compare the value from the sensor to a desired or predetermined threshold humidity value, and send a control signal to the mixing value or dual input pressure control mechanism to increase or decrease the humidity in a manner similar to that described above.

[0070] If, at step 430, the determination is made that an adjustment to the humidity level is not needed, then, at step 450, no additional air external to the refrigeration unit (e.g., refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG.1) or internal to the refrigeration unit is added or combined with the air extracted from the one or more storage compartments. It is worth noting that air one or both of air external to the refrigeration unit and air internal to the refrigeration unit may already be added or combined with the air extracted from the one or more storage compartments. In other words, no adjustment is made to the control valve or regulation mechanism for each of the input ports on the pressure control mechanism is made at step 450.

[0071] At step 460, the air extracted from the one or more storage compartments, either combined with additional air at step 440, or not combined with additional air at 450, is passed through the circulation pump and further processed to remove oxygen. The oxygen removal process is carried out in an oxygen removal filter (e.g., oxygen removal filter 215) in a manner similar to that described above. At step 470, a determination is made as to whether the removal of oxygen from the air is complete. In some embodiments, the removal of oxygen is determined to be complete when the oxygen level in the air reaches a certain value (e.g., 4 percent). In some embodiments, the removal of oxygen may be deemed to be completed after a period of time has passed (e.g., 10 minutes) since the initialization, at step 410. If, at step 470, it is determined that the removal of oxygen is not complete, the process 400 returns to step 420 to continue extracting air from the one or more storage compartment(s) described above. If, at step 470, it is determined that the removal of oxygen is complete, then, at step 480, the circulation pump is shut down or stopped by turning off, or otherwise removing electrical power and process 400 is terminated. The circulation pump 110 may be shut down as part of turning off the refrigeration unit (e.g., refrigeration apparatus 100 in FIG. 1) or through a control signal provided by a processor (e.g., processor 380 in FIG.3A or FIG. 3B) based on, for example, a user input.

[0072] It is to be appreciated that although some elements in the embodiments described above focus on physical hardware and elements within a device, the principles of the present disclosure may be easily extended to implementations that involve software based programming instructions that are stored in a computer readable medium, such as a magnetic optical based storage structure, and executed by one or more processors in a device. Further, in some embodiments, one or more of the elements of a process based on the principles of the present disclosure, such as process 400 described above, may be implemented utilizing cloud-based operations and / or storage. It is to be appreciated that, except where explicitly indicated in the description above, the various features shown and described are interchangeable, that is, a feature shown in one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment.

[0073] Although embodiments which incorporate the teachings of the present disclosure have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings. Having described preferred embodiments for an apparatus and method for controlling humidity, it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the disclosure which are within the scope of the disclosure as outlined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for allowing a user to control humidity level in a portion of a refrigeration unit, the apparatus comprisinga circulation pump having an intake port and a discharge port, the circulation pump used to circulate air;an oxygen removal filter having an intake port fluidically coupled to the discharge port of the circulation pump, the oxygen removal filter further having a first discharge port used to externally exhaust oxygen removed from the air to outside the refrigeration unit and a second discharge port used to provide oxygen depleted air to the refrigeration unit;at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit having an intake port and an exhaust port, the intake port fluidically coupled to the second discharge port of the oxygen removal filter and the discharge port fluidly coupled to the intake port of the circulation pump, the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit receiving the oxygen depleted air from the oxygen removal filter; and at least one mixing valve fluidically coupled to the intake port of the circulation pump, the mixing valve operable to provide air to the intake port of the circulation pump, the air being received from at least one of air external to the refrigeration unit and air internal to the refrigeration unit, in order to adjust a humidity level of the air in the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one mixing valve includes at least one of an air filter coupled to the first input to the and an air filter coupled to the second input port.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mixing valve is at least one of a double check valve and a shuttle valve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an ozone generator, the ozone generator having an input port coupled to the circulation pump and a discharge port fluidically coupled to the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit, the ozone generator configured to sanitize the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprisinga first pressure control mechanism having an intake port and a discharge port, the first pressure control mechanism coupled between the oxygen removal filter and the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit such that the intake port of the first pressure control mechanism is fluidically coupled to the second discharge port of the oxygen removal filter, and the discharge port of thefirst pressure control mechanism is fluidically coupled to the intake port of the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit; anda second pressure control mechanism having an intake port and a discharge port, the second pressure control mechanism coupled between the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit and the circulation pump such that the intake port of the second pressure control mechanism is fluidically coupled to the discharge port of the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit and the discharge port of the second pressure control mechanism is fluidically coupled to the intake port of the circulation pump.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first pressure control mechanism is configured to adjust the pressure exiting the oxygen removal filter based on a first threshold pressure value at the first pressure control mechanism, and the second pressure control mechanism is configured to adjust the pressure exiting the storage container based on a second threshold pressure value at the second pressure control mechanism.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an ozone generator, the ozone generator having an input port coupled to the output of the first pressure control mechanism and a discharge port fluidically coupled to the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit, the ozone generator configured to sanitize the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mixing valve includes at least one pressure regulator9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mixing valve is further configured to adjust the pressure entering the circulation pump based on a third threshold pressure value at the third pressure control mechanism.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a humidity monitor located within the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit, the humidity monitor coupled to the at least one mixing valve, the humidity monitor used to control the at least one of air external to the refrigeration unit and air internal to the refrigeration unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a processor electrically coupled to the humidity monitor and the mixing valve, wherein the humidity monitor is configured to provide a signal representing a humidity value to the processor, and wherein the at least one mixing valve includes a control element configured to receive a control signal from the processor to control the at least one of air external to the refrigeration unit and air internal to the refrigeration unit.12 The apparatus of claims 11, wherein the humidity level of the air in the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit is selected by one of a user and an algorithm running on the processor.TJ13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an amount of additional air received from the at least one of air external to the refrigeration unit and air internal to the refrigeration unit is controlled by a user.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit is a storage compartment, a storage drawer, a storage bin, a crisper drawer, or a crisper bin.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air internal to the refrigeration unit includes air from a remaining portion of the refrigeration unit.

16. A method for controlling humidity level in a portion of a refrigeration unit containing an oxygen removal filter, a storage container for the consumable item, and a circulation pump, the method comprising:extracting air from at least one separate internal portion of a refrigeration unit using a circulation pump;providing additional air to the extracted air at an intake port of the circulation pump, the additional air being at least one of an amount of air external to the refrigeration unit entering through a first input port and an amount of air internal to the refrigeration unit through a second input port;removing oxygen from the combination of the additional air and the extracted air to produce oxygen-reduced air; andproviding the oxygen-reduced air to the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit;wherein the additional air is used to adjust a humidity level of the oxygen-reduced air provided to the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising filtering at least one of the amount of air external to the refrigeration unit entering through a first input port and the amount of air internal to the refrigeration unit through a second input port prior to providing the additional air to the circulation pump.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:providing the additional air and the extracted air to an ozone generator from the circulation pump; anddisinfecting the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit using the additional air and the extract air from the ozone generator.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:measuring a first pressure value of the oxygen-reduced air at an exhaust port of the oxygen removal filter used to remove the oxygen; andadjusting a pressure of the oxygen-reduced air at an exhaust port of the oxygen removal filter based on a comparison of the first pressure value with a first threshold pressure value using a first pressure control mechanism.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising;providing the oxygen-reduced air to an ozone generator from the circulation pump; and disinfecting the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit using the additional air and the extract air from the ozone generator.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein adjusting the humidity further includes:determining a humidity level in the at least one separate portion of the refrigeration unit; and adjusting at least one of the amount of air external to the refrigeration unit entering through a first input port and the amount of air internal to the refrigeration unit through a second input based on the determination of the humidity level.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the adjusting is performed using a mixing valve.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the mixing valve is at least one of a double check valve and a shuttle valve.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the humidity level is selected by one of a user and an algorithm running on the processor.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein an amount of additional air received from the at least one of air external to the refrigeration unit and air internal to the refrigeration unit is controlled by a user.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one separate internal portion of the refrigeration unit is a storage compartment, storage drawer, a storage bin, a crisper drawer, or a crisper bin.

27. A refrigeration apparatus, comprising:a cabinet having an outer frame and an inner frame, the inner frame forming the walls of a cavity, the cavity configured for storage of food and drink items;a refrigeration heat pump mechanically coupled to the cabinet, the refrigeration heat pump configured cool air inside the cavity by transferring heat from the air inside the cavity to outside of the cabinet using a refrigerant; anda humidity control device mechanically coupled to the cabinet, the humidity control device comprising:a circulation pump having an intake port and a discharge port, the circulation pump used to circulate air;an oxygen removal filter having an intake port fluidically coupled to the discharge port of the circulation pump, the oxygen removal filter further having a first discharge port used to externally exhaust oxygen removed from the air to outside the refrigeration unit and a second discharge port used to provide oxygen depleted air to the cavity in the refrigeration apparatus; at least one separate internal portion of the cavity having an intake port and an exhaust port, the intake port fluidically coupled to the second discharge port of the oxygen removal filter and the discharge port fluidly coupled to the intake port of the circulation pump, the at least one separate internal portion of the cavity receiving the oxygen depleted air from the oxygen removal filter; andat least one mixing valve fluidically coupled to the intake port of the circulation pump, the mixing valve operable to provide air to the intake port of the circulation pump, the air being received from at least one of air external to the refrigeration unit and air internal to the refrigeration unit, in order to adjust a humidity level of the air in the at least one separate internal portion of the cavity.

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