Patent Description:
Refrigerated vehicles and trailers are commonly used to transport perishable goods. A transport refrigeration unit is commonly mounted to the vehicles or to the trailer in operative association with a cargo space defined within the vehicles or trailer for maintaining a controlled temperature environment within the cargo space. Document <CIT> discloses a transport refrigeration unit and a power supply controlled according to the vehicle route condition data.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method of operating a transport refrigeration system is provided as recited in claim <NUM>.

Optionally, the operation is automatically adjusted based on the recommended adjustment command by at least one of a controller of the transport refrigeration unit or a power management module of the power supply system.

Optionally, the method may include transmitting the recommended adjustment command to a computing device of an individual, wherein the individual can accept a recommended adjustment via the computing device, the operation adjusted in response to the recommended adjustment being accepted.

Optionally, the method may include increasing or decreasing cooling provided by the transport refrigeration unit based on the recommended adjustment command.

Optionally, the method may include increasing or decreasing heating provided by the transport refrigeration unit based on the recommended adjustment command.

Optionally, the method may include increasing or decreasing power draw from the power supply system based on the recommended adjustment command.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a transport refrigeration system is provided as recited in claim <NUM>.

Optionally, the recommended adjustment command is transmitted to a computing device of an individual, wherein the individual can accept a recommended adjustment via the computing device, the operation adjusted in response to the recommended adjustment being accepted.

Optionally, the transport refrigeration unit is configured to increase cooling or decrease based on the recommended adjustment command.

Optionally, the transport refrigeration unit is configured to increase heating or decrease based on the recommended adjustment command.

Optionally, a power management module is configured to increase power draw or decrease power draw from the power supply system based on the recommended adjustment command.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a computer program product tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided as recited in claim <NUM>.

The method of the first aspect of the invention may comprise providing the system of the second aspect of the invention, and/or the computer program product of the third aspect of the invention. The method may comprise using and/or providing any features of the invention as described herein with reference to the second and third aspects of the invention. The system of the second aspect of the invention may be configured to perform the method of the first aspect of the invention, and may use or perform any of the features of the second aspect of the invention. The computer program product of the third aspect of the invention may be configured to provide the method of the first aspect of the invention, and/or any features thereof. It should be understood that features described herein with respect to one aspect of the invention may form part of any of the other aspects of the invention.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present invention include determining a current route of a transport refrigeration unit by comparing location data to prior route location data and then adjusting operation of a transport refrigeration unit and/or a power supply of the transport refrigeration unit based on the operational information from those prior route.

The foregoing features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of example only.

Embodiments disclosed herein seek to determine what route a transport refrigeration unit is on and preemptively adjusting operation of a transport refrigeration unit and/or a power supply for the transport refrigeration unit to account for future conditions experienced along a route.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic view of a transport refrigeration system <NUM> is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The transport refrigeration system <NUM> is being illustrated as a trailer system <NUM>, as seen in <FIG>. The trailer system <NUM> includes a vehicle <NUM> integrally connected to a transport container <NUM>. The vehicle <NUM> includes an operator's compartment or cab <NUM> and a propulsion motor <NUM> which acts as the drive system of the trailer system <NUM>. The propulsion motor <NUM> is configured to power the vehicle <NUM>. The energy source that powers the propulsion motor <NUM> may be at least one of compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, gasoline, electricity, diesel, hydrogen, electricity from a fuel cell, a electricity from a hydrogen fueled proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, electricity from a battery, electricity from a generator, or any combination thereof. The propulsion motor <NUM> may be an electric motor or a hybrid motor (e.g., a combustion engine and an electric motor). The transport container <NUM> is coupled to the vehicle <NUM>. The transport container <NUM> may be removably coupled to the vehicle <NUM>. The transport container <NUM> is a refrigerated trailer and includes a top wall <NUM>, a directly opposed bottom wall <NUM>, opposed side walls <NUM>, and a front wall <NUM>, with the front wall <NUM> being closest to the vehicle <NUM>. The transport container <NUM> further includes a door or doors <NUM> at a rear wall <NUM>, opposite the front wall <NUM>. The walls of the transport container <NUM> define a refrigerated cargo space <NUM>. It is appreciated by those of skill in the art that embodiments described herein may be applied to a tractor-trailer refrigerated system or non-trailer refrigeration such as, for example a rigid truck, a truck having refrigerated compartment.

Typically, transport refrigeration systems <NUM> are used to transport and distribute perishable goods and environmentally sensitive goods (herein referred to as perishable goods <NUM>). The perishable goods <NUM> may include but are not limited to fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, eggs, dairy, seed, flowers, meat, poultry, fish, ice, blood, pharmaceuticals, or any other suitable cargo requiring temperature controlled transport. The transport refrigeration unit <NUM> is in operative association with the refrigerated cargo space <NUM> and is configured to provide conditioned air to the transport container <NUM>.

The transport refrigeration unit <NUM> may be powered by an energy storage device <NUM>. The energy storage device <NUM> may be attached to the trailer system <NUM>. The energy storage device <NUM> may be attached to a bottom of the trailer system <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, with continued reference to <FIG>, an enlarged schematic view of the transport refrigeration system <NUM> is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The transport refrigeration system <NUM> includes a transport refrigeration unit <NUM>, a refrigerant compression device <NUM>, an electric motor <NUM> for driving the refrigerant compression device <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger <NUM>, an expansion device <NUM>, and a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM> connected in refrigerant flow communication in a closed loop refrigerant circuit and arranged in a conventional refrigeration cycle. The transport refrigeration unit <NUM> functions, under the control of the controller <NUM>, to establish and regulate a desired environmental parameters, such as, for example temperature, pressure, humidity, carbon dioxide, ethylene, ozone, light exposure, vibration exposure, and other conditions in the refrigerated cargo space <NUM>, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In an embodiment, the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> is capable of providing a desired temperature and humidity range.

The transport refrigeration unit <NUM> also includes one or more fans <NUM> associated with the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger <NUM> and driven by fan motor(s) <NUM> and one or more fans <NUM> associated with the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM> and driven by fan motor(s) <NUM>. The transport refrigeration unit <NUM> may also include a heater <NUM> associated with the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM>. In an embodiment, the heater <NUM> may be an electric resistance heater. It is to be understood that other components (not shown) may be incorporated into the refrigerant circuit as desired, including for example, but not limited to, a suction modulation valve, a receiver, a filter/dryer, an economizer circuit.

The refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger <NUM> may, for example, comprise one or more refrigerant conveying coiled tubes or one or more tube banks formed of a plurality of refrigerant conveying tubes across flow path to the heat outlet <NUM>. The fan(s) <NUM> are operative to pass air, typically ambient air, across the tubes of the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger <NUM> to cool refrigerant vapor passing through the tubes. The refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger <NUM> may operate either as a refrigerant condenser, such as if the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> is operating in a subcritical refrigerant cycle or as a refrigerant gas cooler, such as if the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> is operating in a transcritical cycle.

The refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM> may, for example, also comprise one or more refrigerant conveying coiled tubes or one or more tube banks formed of a plurality of refrigerant conveying tubes extending across flow path from a return air intake <NUM>. The fan(s) <NUM> are operative to pass air drawn from the refrigerated cargo space <NUM> across the tubes of the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM> to heat and evaporate refrigerant liquid passing through the tubes and cool the air. The air cooled in traversing the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM> is supplied back to the refrigerated cargo space <NUM> through a refrigeration unit outlet <NUM>. It is to be understood that the term "air" when used herein with reference to the atmosphere within the cargo box includes mixtures of air with other gases, such as for example, but not limited to, nitrogen or carbon dioxide, sometimes introduced into a refrigerated cargo box for transport of perishable produce.

Airflow is circulated into and through the refrigerated cargo space <NUM> of the transport container <NUM> by means of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>. A return air <NUM> flows into the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> from the refrigerated cargo space <NUM> through the transport refrigeration unit return air intake <NUM>, and across the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM> via the fan <NUM>, thus conditioning the return air <NUM> to a selected or predetermined temperature. The return air <NUM>, now referred to as conditioned air <NUM>, is supplied into the refrigerated cargo space <NUM> of the transport container <NUM> through the transport refrigeration unit outlet <NUM>. Heat <NUM> is removed from the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger <NUM> through the heat outlet <NUM>. The transport refrigeration unit <NUM> may contain an external air inlet <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, to aid in the removal of heat <NUM> from the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger <NUM> by pulling in external air <NUM>. The conditioned air <NUM> may cool the perishable goods <NUM> in the refrigerated cargo space <NUM> of the transport container <NUM>. It is to be appreciated that the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> can further be operated in reverse to warm the transport container <NUM> when, for example, the outside temperature is very low. In the illustrated embodiment, the return air intake <NUM>, the transport refrigeration unit outlet <NUM>, the heat outlet <NUM>, and the external air inlet <NUM> are configured as grilles to help prevent foreign objects from entering the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>.

The transport refrigeration system <NUM> also includes a controller <NUM> configured for controlling the operation of the transport refrigeration system <NUM> including, but not limited to, the operation of various components of the refrigerant unit <NUM> to provide and maintain a desired thermal environment within the refrigerated cargo space <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may also be able to selectively operate the electric motor <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be an electronic controller including a processor <NUM> and an associated memory <NUM> comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform various operations. The processor <NUM> may be but is not limited to a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory <NUM> may be a storage device such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

It is understood that while transport refrigeration unit <NUM> is described and illustrated herein as being powered by the energy storage device <NUM>, it is understood that the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> may be powered by any power source known to one of skill in the art. The transport refrigeration unit <NUM> may be powered by the energy storage device <NUM>, a power generation device, a power storage device, and/or any other power source known to one of skill in the art. Other power sources may include combustion engines, fuel cells, solar cells, hybrid engines, or any other power source known to one of skill in the art.

In one embodiment, the energy storage device <NUM> may be located outside of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>. In another embodiment, the energy storage device <NUM> may be located within the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>.

The energy storage device <NUM> may include a battery system <NUM>, a capacitor <NUM>, and/or any other electricity storage system known to one of skill in the art. The battery system <NUM> may comprise, chemical batteries, lithium-ion batteries, solid state batteries, flow batteries, or any other type of battery known to one of skill in the art. The battery system <NUM> may employ multiple batteries organized into battery banks. The capacitor <NUM> may be an electrolytic capacitor, a mica capacitor, a paper capacitor a film capacitor, a non-polarized capacitor, a ceramic capacitor, or any type of capacitor known to one of skill in the art.

The energy storage device <NUM> may be charged by a stationary charging station <NUM> such as, for example a three-phase 460Vac (<NUM>) or 400Vac (<NUM>) power outlet. The charging station <NUM> may provide single phase (e.g., level <NUM> charging capability) or three phase AC power to the energy storage device <NUM>. It is understood that the charging station <NUM> may have any phase charging and embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to single phase or three phase AC power. In an embodiment, the charging station may be a high voltage DC power, such as, for example, 500VDC. One function of the charging station <NUM> is to balance the cell voltage of individual cells of the battery system at some regular cadence.

A thermal storage system <NUM> may be present to sink electrical energy into in order to cool the transport container <NUM>. The thermal storage system <NUM> may utilize a phase change material, heat transfer fluids, or thermochemical reactions to provide cooling to the transport container <NUM>. For example, the thermal storage system <NUM> may utilize electricity to change the phase change material from one phase to another phase to cool the transport container <NUM>. The thermal storage system <NUM> may be an ice generation system to create ice to cool the transport container <NUM>. The thermal storage system <NUM> may be an ice generation system to create ice to cool the transport container <NUM>. The ice generation system may generate ice when electricity is available or plentiful to provide lasting cooling for the transport container <NUM> to conserve electricity later by reducing use of the compression device <NUM> for cooling.

The transport refrigeration unit <NUM> has a plurality of electrical power demand loads on the energy storage device <NUM>, including, but not limited to, the electric motor <NUM> for the compression device <NUM>, the fan motor <NUM> for the fan <NUM> associated with the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger <NUM>, and the fan motor <NUM> for the fan <NUM> associated with the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM>. As each of the fan motors <NUM>, <NUM> and the electric motor <NUM> may be an AC motor or a DC motor, it is to be understood that various power converters <NUM>, such as AC to DC rectifiers, DC to AC inverters, AC to AC voltage/frequency converters, and DC to DC voltage converters, may be employed in connection with or without the energy storage device <NUM> as appropriate. In the depicted embodiment, the heater <NUM> also constitutes an electrical power demand load. The electric resistance heater <NUM> may be selectively operated by the controller <NUM> whenever a control temperature within the temperature controlled cargo box drops below a preset lower temperature limit, which may occur in a cold ambient environment. In such an event the controller <NUM> would activate the heater <NUM> to heat air circulated over the heater <NUM> by the fan(s) <NUM> associated with the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may also be used to de-ice the return air intake <NUM>. Additionally, the electric motor <NUM> being used to power the refrigerant compression device <NUM> constitutes a demand load. The refrigerant compression device <NUM> may comprise a single-stage or multiple-stage compressor such as, for example, a reciprocating compressor or a scroll compressor. The transport refrigeration system <NUM> may also include a voltage sensor <NUM> to sense the voltage coming into the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>.

The power demand loads of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> may be managed and fulfilled by a power supply system <NUM>. The power supply system <NUM> may be configured to provide electricity to power the transport refrigeration system <NUM>. The power supply system <NUM> may store and/or generate electricity. The power supply system <NUM> may include the energy storage device <NUM> and the power management module <NUM>.

The power supply system <NUM> may also include a generator <NUM> (e.g., a hub generator, an axle generator), a fuel cell, a solar panel, a battery system, the propulsion motor <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>, or any other power supply system known to one of skill in the art. The generator <NUM> may be a hub generator or a wheel generator operably connect to a wheel or axle of the transport container <NUM> that is configured to generator electricity during the slowing of the vehicle <NUM> or the downward descent of the vehicle <NUM>. The generator <NUM> may serve as part of the power supply system <NUM> and assist in generating supplemental electricity for the power supply system <NUM> as required.

The power management module <NUM> may be an electronic controller including a processor <NUM> and an associated memory <NUM> comprising computer-executable instructions (i.e., computer program product) that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform various operations. The processor <NUM> may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory <NUM> may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium. While the power management module <NUM> is being illustrated and described herein as a separate electronic controller the embodiments described herein are applicable to the power management module <NUM> being incorporated as software within the controller <NUM> of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>.

<FIG> also illustrates a transportation refrigeration unit performance adjustment system <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that, although particular systems are separately defined in the schematic block diagrams, each or any of the systems may be otherwise combined or separated via hardware and/or software.

The transportation refrigeration unit performance adjustment system <NUM>, as illustrated, may include the cloud-based controller <NUM>, the controller <NUM> of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>, one or more sensors <NUM>, a location determination device <NUM>, and a computer application <NUM> installed or accessible on a computing device <NUM>. The one or more sensors <NUM> that may be distributed throughout the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> and the refrigerated cargo space <NUM>. For example, the sensors <NUM> may be located on in the transport container <NUM>, proximate or on the perishable goods <NUM>, proximate or on the return air intake <NUM>, proximate or on the refrigeration unit outlet <NUM>, proximate or on the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM>, proximate or on the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger <NUM>, proximate or on the refrigerant compression device <NUM>, proximate or on the electric motor <NUM>, proximate or on the energy storage device <NUM>, or any other conceivable location that may require sensing. Each sensor <NUM> is configured to detect operational data <NUM> and transmit the operational data <NUM>. Operational data <NUM> may include temperature, pressure, speed, operational parameters of the component that the sensor <NUM> is attached to, operational inputs from an operator, humidity, voltage, current, charge level, flow, solar radiation, VOC levels, refrigerant or gas leaks, vibration, door opening status, occupancy/cargo load levels, or any other similar parameter known to one of skill in the art. Some of the sensors <NUM> may be located in the vehicle <NUM> and may be in local communication with the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is configured to communicate with the computer application <NUM> and the cloud-based controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the computer application <NUM> through the cloud-based controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> includes a communication device <NUM> to enable this communication. The communication device <NUM> may be capable of wireless communication including but not limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Sub-GHz RF Channel, cellular, satellite, or any other wireless signal known to one of skill in the art. The communication device <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the cloud-based controller <NUM> through the internet <NUM> using the communication device <NUM>. The communication device <NUM> may be connected to the internet <NUM> through, cellular data connections, a satellite data connection, a Wi-Fi router or a building management system at a terminal or delivery stop.

The transport refrigeration unit <NUM> may include the location determination device <NUM>. The location determination device <NUM> may be located in the controller <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, or any other component of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>. Alternatively, the location determination device <NUM> may be a separate standalone component in communication with the controller <NUM>.

The location determination device <NUM> that may be configured to determine location data <NUM> of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> using cellular signal triangulation, a global position system (GPS), or any location termination method known to one of skill in the art. The location data <NUM> may include a longitude and latitude location, and an altitude. Advantageously, the location data <NUM> may be useful to determine where the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> is located in its present route, which may help determine where it is going and how best to control the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>, as discussed further herein.

The cloud-based controller <NUM> may be a remote computer server that includes a processor <NUM> and an associated memory <NUM> comprising computer-executable instructions (i.e., computer program product) that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform various operations. The processor <NUM> may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory <NUM> may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

The cloud-based controller <NUM> also includes a communication device <NUM>. The communication device <NUM> may be capable of communication with the internet <NUM>. The communication device <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the computing device <NUM> through the internet <NUM>. The communication device <NUM> may be a software module that handles communications to and from the computer application <NUM> or to and from the controller <NUM>.

The computing device <NUM> may belong to or be in possession of an individual <NUM>. The individual <NUM> may be a driver of the vehicle <NUM>, a mechanic or technician maintaining the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>, a worker loading or unloading the refrigerated cargo space <NUM>, a manager responsible for monitoring the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>, or any other individual that may be responsible for the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>.

The computing device <NUM> may be a desktop computer, a stationary device (e.g., control panel), a laptop computer, or a mobile computing device that is typically carried by a person, such as, for example a phone, a smart phone, smart glasses, a PDA, a smart watch, a tablet, a laptop, a fixed computing module on the refrigeration unit <NUM> or in the vehicle <NUM>, or any other mobile computing device known to one of skill in the art.

The computing device <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> configured to control operations of the computing device <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be an electronic controller including a processor <NUM> and an associated memory <NUM> comprising computer-executable instructions (i.e., computer program product) that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform various operations. The processor <NUM> may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory <NUM> may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

It is understood that the computer application <NUM> may be a mobile application installed on the computing device <NUM>. The computer application <NUM> may be accessible from computing device <NUM>, such as, for example, a software-as-as service or a website. The computer application <NUM> may be in communication with the cloud-based controller <NUM> via the internet <NUM>.

The computing device <NUM> includes a communication device <NUM> configured to communicate with the internet <NUM> through one or more wireless signals. The one or more wireless signals may include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Sub-GHz RF Channel, cellular, satellite, or any other wireless signal known to one of skill in the art. Alternatively, the computing device <NUM> may be connected to the internet <NUM> through a hardwired connection. The computing device <NUM> is configured to communicate with the cloud-based controller <NUM> through the internet <NUM>.

The computing device <NUM> may include a display device <NUM>, such as for example a computer display, an LCD display, an LED display, an OLED display, a touchscreen of a smart phone, tablet, or any other similar display device known to one of the skill in the art. The individual <NUM> operating the computing device <NUM> is able to view the computer application <NUM> through the display device <NUM>. If the computing device <NUM> is a pair of smart glasses, then the display device <NUM> may be a transparent lens of the pair of smart glasses.

The computing device <NUM> includes an input device <NUM> configured to receive a manual input from a user (e.g., human being) of computing device <NUM>. The input device <NUM> may be a keyboard, a touch screen, a joystick, a knob, a touchpad, one or more physical buttons, a microphone configured to receive a voice command, a camera or sensor configured to receive a gesture command, an inertial measurement unit configured to detect a shake of the computing device <NUM>, or any similar input device known to one of skill in the art. The user operating the computing device <NUM> is able to enter data into the computer application <NUM> through the input device <NUM>. The input device <NUM> allows the user operating the computing device <NUM> to data into the computer application <NUM> via a manual input to input device <NUM>. For example, the user may respond to a prompt on the display device <NUM> by entering a manual input via the input device <NUM>. In one example, the manual input may be a touch on the touchscreen. In an embodiment, the display device <NUM> and the input device <NUM> may be combined into a single device, such as, for example, a touchscreen on a smart phone.

The computing device <NUM> device may also include a feedback device <NUM>. The feedback device <NUM> may activate in response to a manual input via the input device <NUM>. The feedback device <NUM> may be a haptic feedback vibration device and/or a speaker emitting a sound. The feedback device <NUM> may activate to confirm that the manual input entered via the input device <NUM> was received via the computer application <NUM>. For example, the feedback device <NUM> may activate by emitting an audible sound or vibrate the computing device <NUM> to confirm that the manual input entered via the input device <NUM> was received via the computer application <NUM>.

The computing device <NUM> may also include a location determination device <NUM> that may be configured to determine a location of the computing device <NUM> using cellular signal triangulation, GPS, or any location termination method known to one of skill in the art.

An analytics module <NUM> may be stored remotely on the memory <NUM> of the cloud-based controller <NUM> and/or locally on the memory <NUM> of the controller <NUM>. In another embodiment, the analytics module <NUM> may be distributed amongst multiple cloud-based controllers (rather than the single cloud-based controller <NUM> that is illustrated in <FIG>) and/or the controller <NUM>.

The analytics module <NUM> may be a software algorithm capable of performing artificial intelligence and/or machining learning functions to analyze the location data <NUM>, the operational data <NUM> from the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>, and/or external data <NUM> from the internet <NUM> to determine recommended adjustment command <NUM>.

As aforementioned the operational data <NUM> may be data relating to the operation and/or performance of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> and/or power supply system <NUM>. The operational data <NUM> may include an operating temperature, an operating pressure, and an operating speed of any component of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> or the power supply system <NUM>. Specific examples of operational data <NUM> may include, a temperature of the perishable goods <NUM>, a temperature of return air <NUM> flowing through the return air intake <NUM>, a temperature of conditioned air <NUM> flowing through the refrigeration unit outlet <NUM>, a temperature of the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger <NUM>, a temperature the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger <NUM>, a pressure of the refrigerant compression device <NUM>, a speed of the refrigerant compression device <NUM>, a speed of the electric motor <NUM>, a temperature of the electric motor <NUM>, a state of charge of the energy storage device <NUM>, a temperature of the energy storage device <NUM>, or any other conceivable data parameter.

The external data <NUM> may be obtained from the internet <NUM> and/or other remote databases. The external data <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, delivery schedules, predicted delays due to traffic or weather, predicted weather, predicted weather that may affect anticipated solar gain, temperature, or humidity conditions, en route changes due to cancellations, typical operational patterns (e.g., breaks, refueling, recharging), locations of recharging stations on a present route (and their status - open/closed pricing), locations of fuel stations on a present route (and their status - open/closed pricing) or recommended revised routing.

The analytics module <NUM> may include prior route location data <NUM> and prior route operational data <NUM>. The prior route location data <NUM> includes location data <NUM> of prior routes taken by the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> and/or other transport refrigeration unit within fleet. The prior route location data <NUM> may include location data <NUM> at selected time intervals (e.g., every second) so that a precise route may be tracked and recorded. The prior route operational data <NUM> may include operational data <NUM> recorder along each of the prior routes in the prior route location data <NUM>. The prior route operational data <NUM> may also relate to the condition of a digital twin, which may indicate problems with the vehicle <NUM>, the refrigeration system <NUM>, or the status of the perishable goods <NUM> (e.g., it may predict that the thermal conditions maintained have caused, or will cause the condition of the cargo (<NUM>) to degrade). The prior route location data <NUM> need not by entered by a user <NUM> but rather the prior route location date <NUM> may be location data <NUM> that was tracked during a previous route.

The analytics module <NUM> is configured to analyze location data <NUM> being currently tracked by the location determination device <NUM> and compare the location data <NUM> to the prior route location data <NUM> to determine a current route that the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> is currently travelling on. For example, a transport refrigeration unit <NUM> may start at a starting location which is the same starting location of one-hundred prior routes in the prior route location data <NUM>, but as the transportation moves along on its route the analytics module <NUM> can start narrowing down what route the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> is on by how similar the location data <NUM> is to prior route location data <NUM>. Once a current route for the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> is determined then the analytics module <NUM> can generate recommended adjustment commands <NUM> to optimize performance of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> on the current route based on at least the prior route operational data <NUM>. The analytics module <NUM> may also take into account external data <NUM> and/or operational data <NUM>. The recommended adjustment command <NUM> is configured to adjust a performance of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> and/or the power supply system <NUM>.

In one example, the analytics module <NUM> generates a recommended adjustment command <NUM> that increases cooling to the transport container <NUM> in advance of transport refrigeration system <NUM> reaching hotter weather, experiencing lengthy traffic, or stopping where the doors <NUM> may be opened for extended period of time based on the prior route operational data <NUM>. Advantageously, this recommended adjustment command <NUM> may help alleviate strain on the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>, or protect/improve the condition of the goods (<NUM>), when it experiences these conditions. In another example, the analytics module <NUM> generates a recommended adjustment command <NUM> that commands the thermal storage system <NUM> to generate ice to keep the transport container <NUM> cool in advance of transport refrigeration system <NUM> reaching hotter weather, experiencing lengthy traffic, or stopping where the doors <NUM> may be opened for extended period of time. Advantageously, this recommended adjustment command <NUM> may help alleviate strain on the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> when it experiences these conditions.

In another example, the analytics module <NUM> generates a recommended adjustment command <NUM> that increases electricity use by the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> or the thermal storage system <NUM> to increase cooling to the transport container <NUM> in order to drain the energy storage device <NUM> in advance of the transport refrigeration system <NUM> approaching a hill where the generator <NUM> may be able to generate energy from the hub or axle due to the downhill descent, a braking area where the generator <NUM> may be able to generate energy from the hub or axle due to the slowing of the vehicle <NUM>, or a charging station <NUM> where the energy storage device <NUM> may be recharged based on the prior route operational data <NUM>. Advantageously, this recommended adjustment command <NUM> may help dump energy into cooling when other energy sources will be immediately available to recharge the energy storage device <NUM>, thus allowing the overall system to operate for longer periods of time.

The analytics module <NUM> may also be configured to temporarily reduce the nominal cargo temperature setpoint in times of limited power/capacity. At a minimum the analytics module <NUM> may also be configured to operate the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> at the lower limits of acceptable temperature (analogous to setting your home thermostat a little higher or lower than preferred to save energy). In severe limiting conditions it may be advisable to violate the desired temperature conditions.

Advantageously, the prior route operational data <NUM> provides a benchmark that will drive decision making (either for improvement or for risk mitigation). For example, the prior route operational data <NUM> may provide the energy profile for a benchmark for specific trip. Operational data <NUM>, such as, for example, a number times the transportation refrigeration unit <NUM> previously went into to defrost during the prior route can be used to save energy (increase defrost interval) or increase efficiency (decrease defrost interval).

Advantageously, knowing an energy profile from the prior route operational data <NUM> may be used to calculate risk based on current conditions (e.g., external data <NUM> and operational date <NUM>). For example, energy may be being used at a greater rate this trip compared to previous trip therefore a change will need to be made preemptively to mitigate risk to transportation refrigeration unit <NUM> and/or perishable goods <NUM>.

The recommended adjustment command <NUM> may be transmitted to the controller <NUM> and the controller <NUM> may automatically adjust operation of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> and/or the power supply system <NUM> based on the recommended adjustment command <NUM>. Alternatively, the controller <NUM> may relay the recommended adjustment command <NUM> to the power supply system <NUM> and the power supply system <NUM> may automatically adjust operation of the power supply system <NUM> based on the recommended adjustment command <NUM>. Additionally, analytics module <NUM> may be able to track the improvements of those recommended adjustment commands <NUM> and can re-act accordingly.

Alternatively, the recommended adjustment command <NUM> may be transmitted to the computing device <NUM> and the individual <NUM> may manually adjust operation of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> and/or the power supply system <NUM> based on the recommended adjustment command <NUM>.

The analytics module <NUM> may continuously learn from each route taken and update the underlying algorithms to provide for better performance and optimization of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> and the power supply system <NUM> on future routes. This learned data from each route may be shared across multiple different transport refrigeration units <NUM> in a fleet of transport refrigeration units <NUM> to better optimize the data learned from each route, which would lead to better performance of each transport refrigeration unit <NUM> in the fleet.

Referring now to <FIG>, with continued reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. A flow process of a method <NUM> of operating a transport refrigeration system <NUM> is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the method <NUM> may be performed by the analytics module <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, a location determination device <NUM> detects location data <NUM> of a transport refrigeration unit <NUM> on a current route beginning at a starting location. The location data <NUM> may be tracked in real-time in multiple locations at a selected time interval between each of the multiple locations as the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> moves along the current route away from the starting location.

At block <NUM>, the location data <NUM> is compared to prior route location data <NUM> of at least one of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> or other transport refrigeration unit in a fleet. The location data <NUM> may be compared to the prior route location data <NUM> in real-time in each of the multiple locations as the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> moves along the current route away from the starting location.

At block <NUM>, the current route that the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> is on is determined based on a comparisons of the location data <NUM> and the prior route location data <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, a recommended adjustment command <NUM> is determined based on at least the current route and prior route operational data <NUM>. Machine learning and/or artificial intelligence may be applied in real-time to determine recommended adjustment commands <NUM> that optimize operation of the transport refrigeration system <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, an operation of at least one of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> or a power supply system <NUM> is adjusted based on the recommended adjustment command <NUM>, the power supply system <NUM> being configured to provide electricity to the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>.

The operation may be automatically adjusted based on the recommended adjustment command <NUM> by at least one of a controller <NUM> of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> or a power management module <NUM> of the power supply system <NUM>.

Alternatively, the recommended adjustment command <NUM> may be transmitted to a computing device of an individual <NUM> and the individual <NUM> can adjust the operation based on the recommended adjustment command <NUM>.

In block <NUM>, the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> may be configured to increase or decrease cooling or heating based on the recommended adjustment command <NUM>. In block <NUM>, the power management module <NUM> may be configured to increase or decrease power draw from the power supply system <NUM> based on the recommended adjustment command <NUM>. For example, some adjustments to save energy may include, but are not limited to, increasing the set point temperature of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM>, change from continuous operation of the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> to start/stop, reduce variable drive speed of the electric motor <NUM> if the electric motor <NUM> is a variable drive unit, and/or put the transport refrigeration unit <NUM> into a fan cycling mode.

While the above description has described the flow process of <FIG>, in a particular order, it should be appreciated that unless otherwise specifically required in the attached claims that the ordering of the steps may be varied.

Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code (e.g., computer program product) containing instructions embodied in tangible media (e.g., non-transitory computer readable medium), such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the exemplary embodiments.

Claim 1:
A method of operating a transport refrigeration system (<NUM>), the method comprising:
detecting (<NUM>), using a location determination device (<NUM>), location data (<NUM>) of a transport refrigeration unit (<NUM>) on a current route beginning at a starting location;
comparing (<NUM>) the detected location data (<NUM>) to prior route location data (<NUM>) of at least one of the transport refrigeration unit (<NUM>) or other transport refrigeration units in a fleet;
determining (<NUM>) the current route that the transport refrigeration unit (<NUM>) is on based on the comparison of the detected location data (<NUM>) and the prior route location data (<NUM>);
determining (<NUM>) a recommended adjustment command (<NUM>) based on at least the current route and prior route operation data (<NUM>); and
adjusting (<NUM>) an operation of at least one of the transport refrigeration unit (<NUM>) or a power supply system (<NUM>) based on the recommended adjustment command (<NUM>), the power supply system (<NUM>) being configured to provide electricity to the transport refrigeration unit (<NUM>);
wherein the location data (<NUM>) is tracked in real-time in multiple locations at a selected time interval between each of the multiple locations as the transport refrigeration unit (<NUM>) moves along the current route away from the starting location; and
wherein the detected location data (<NUM>) is compared to the prior route location data (<NUM>) in real-time in each of the multiple locations as the transport refrigeration unit (<NUM>) moves along the current route away from the starting location.