Patent ID: 7644590

Claim:
A control system for a refrigeration system, the refrigeration system including at least one refrigeration compartment, a quick chill/thaw pan located in the refrigeration compartment, an air handler including a heater element, a damper, a fan for supplying air to the quick chill/thaw pan, and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the air handler, said control system comprising: an electronic controller comprising a main board, a temperature adjustment board, a dispenser board, and a serial communications bus, said main board electrically connected to said temperature adjustment board and said dispenser board through said serial communications bus for controlling the temperature of the refrigeration compartment and the quick chill/thaw pan; and a human machine interface (HMI) board comprising a plurality of input selection keys, said controller electrically connected to said HMI board and configured for user selection of a quick chill mode, a quick thaw mode, and a temperature zone mode, wherein user selection of said temperature zone mode includes user selection of one of a temperature and a temperature range to be maintained within the quick chill/thaw pan, said controller configured to control an operating speed of the fan based on a detected temperature of the air handler, said controller further configured to energize the heater element in order to maintain a temperature in the quick chill/thaw pan and open the damper to circulate air between the air handler and the quick chill/thaw pan when the heater element is energized.