Patent ID: 7062934

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling the temperature of an electronic device, said apparatus comprising: a refrigeration system including a compressor, said refrigeration system being operative to circulate a refrigerant through a fluid flow loop such that said refrigerant will change between gaseous and liquid states so as to alternately absorb and release thermal energy; a thermal head having a temperature controlled surface, said thermal head defining a flow channel for passage of said refrigerant to thereby function as an evaporator in said refrigeration system; a heat exchanger located between said thermal head and said compressor in said fluid flow loop, said heat exchanger defining a supply channel to introduce said refrigerant into said thermal head, a return channel for receiving refrigerant exiting said thermal head and a pre-cooling channel adapted to receive said refrigerant from said compressor and exhaust said refrigerant to said return channel; a control valve located between said heat exchanger and said thermal head in said fluid flow loop, said control valve being operative to regulate introduction of said refrigerant into said flow channel of said thermal head; and a controller operative to control said control valve for maintaining a predetermined temperature at said temperature controlled surface.