Patent ID: 8820095

Claim:
A vortex-based temperature control system, comprising: a chamber that at least partially encloses an optical transceiver or vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) to be tested; a printed circuit board to which the optical transceiver or VCSEL is mounted, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to enable operation of the optical transceiver or VCSEL while the optical transceiver or VCSEL is at least partially enclosed within the chamber; a sensor disposed within the chamber for detecting a temperature within the chamber; a first vortex tube coupled to the chamber for providing a heating airflow to the chamber; a second vortex tube coupled to the chamber for providing a cooling airflow to the chamber; an air supply coupled to the first and second vortex tubes, wherein the air supply comprises: a booster configured to increase a pressure of an airflow deliverable to the first and second vortex tubes; a capacity tank coupled to receive an output of the booster and configured to store pressurized gas; and a pressure regulator coupled to receive an output of the capacity tank and configured to control the pressure of the airflow released downstream to the first and second vortex tubes; and a temperature controller coupled to the sensor and configured to control an airflow delivered to the first and second vortex tubes to obtain a desired temperature setting within the chamber.