Patent ID: 8759721

Claim:
An actively heated or cooled cup, mug, travel mug, baby bottle, beer mug, carafe, or liquid container, comprising: a body having a receiving portion for receiving and holding a liquid; and a heating or cooling system, comprising two or more heating or cooling elements configured to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the receiving portion of the body, control circuitry configured to control the operation of the two or more heating or cooling elements, and one or more liquid level sensors configured to sense a liquid level in the receiving portion and to communicate the sensed liquid level to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate each of the two or more heating or cooling elements independently of each other based at least in part on the sensed liquid level such that the control circuitry can turn off or turn on or reduce power to or increase power to at least one of the two or more heating or cooling elements based at least in part on the sensed liquid level, wherein as the sensed liquid level drops below a predetermined level, the control circuitry reduces power to or turns off at least said one of the two or more heating or cooling elements that is at least partially exposed above the liquid level or at least partially out of thermal contact with the liquid due to the drop in liquid level.