Patent ID: 6401462
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: F24F,F25B,F25D,H01L

Abstract:
A thermoelectric cooling system comprising:a housing; a thermoelectric module comprising at least one heat sink and at least one heat source, said heat source comprising a load and a first body spaced from said load such that the first body is insulated from direct thermal association with the load; an interface intermediate the first body and the heat sink such that the first body, the interface, and the heat sink are mechanically connected in series, the first body absorbing heat from the air surrounding said load and the heat being transferred through the interface to the heat sink by the Peltier effect when direct current is applied to the interface; and a control assembly comprising a thermocouple generating voltage in proportion to the temperature of the first body and a relay, the control assembly and the thermoelectric module electrically connected to each other in series, the relay sensing the voltage from the thermocouple and providing at least a first voltage level to the interface to cool the load when a first thermocouple voltage is sensed and a second voltage level to the interface sufficient to substantially prevent reversal of the heat source and the heat sink when a second thermocouple voltage is sensed.