Temperature calibration device having reconfigurable heating/cooling modules to provide wide temperature range
First Claim
1. A method of operating a temperature calibration device having a plurality of Peltier cells to heat or cool a device to be calibrated, the method comprising:
- connecting the plurality of Peltier cells to each other in a first configuration when the Peltier cells are to cool the device to be calibrated;
applying a first voltage having a first polarity to the Peltier cells that are in the first configuration when the Peltier cells are to cool the device to be calibrated;
connecting the plurality of Peltier cells to each other in a second configuration when the Peltier cells are to heat the device to be calibrated, the second configuration being different from the first configuration; and
applying a second voltage having a second polarity to the Peltier cells that are in the second configuration when the Peltier cells are to heat the device to be calibrated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A temperature calibration device uses Peltier cells for heating and cooling. The Peltier cells are connected to a relay that connects the cells to each other in one configuration for heating and a different configuration for cooling. The Peltier cells also receive supply voltages having different magnitudes and polarities for heating and cooling. By changing the manner in which the Peltier cells are connected to each other and using different supply voltages for heating and cooling, the cells are able to operate closer to their specified maximum temperature differential without sacrificing the useful life of the cells.
22 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of operating a temperature calibration device having a plurality of Peltier cells to heat or cool a device to be calibrated, the method comprising:
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connecting the plurality of Peltier cells to each other in a first configuration when the Peltier cells are to cool the device to be calibrated; applying a first voltage having a first polarity to the Peltier cells that are in the first configuration when the Peltier cells are to cool the device to be calibrated; connecting the plurality of Peltier cells to each other in a second configuration when the Peltier cells are to heat the device to be calibrated, the second configuration being different from the first configuration; and applying a second voltage having a second polarity to the Peltier cells that are in the second configuration when the Peltier cells are to heat the device to be calibrated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A temperature calibration device, comprising:
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a block of thermally conductive material that is structured to be placed in thermal communication with a device to be calibrated; a plurality of Peltier cells in thermal contact with the block of thermally conductive material; a configurable connection device coupled to the Peltier cells, the configurable connection device being structured to connect the Peltier cells to each other in a first configuration responsive to a first control signal and to connect the Peltier cells to each other in a second configuration responsive to a second control signal, the second configuration being different from the first configuration; a power supply structured to apply a first voltage to the Peltier cells responsive to the first control signal and to apply a second voltage to the Peltier cells responsive to the second control signal, the second voltage having a polarity that is different from the polarity of the first voltage; and a control circuit coupled to the configurable connection device and the power supply, the control circuit being structured to apply the first control signal to the configurable connection device and the power supply when the device to be calibrated is to be cooled and to apply the second control signal to the configurable connection device and the power supply when the device to be calibrated is to be heated. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A temperature calibration device, comprising:
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a block of thermally conductive material that is structured to be placed in thermal communication with a device to be calibrated; a plurality of Peltier cells in thermal contact with the block of thermally conductive material; a power supply structured to apply a first voltage to the Peltier cells responsive to a first control signal and to apply a second voltage to the Peltier cells responsive to a second control signal, the second voltage having a magnitude and polarity that is different from the first voltage; and a control circuit coupled to the power supply, the control circuit being structured to apply the first control signal to the power supply when the device to be calibrated is to be cooled and to apply the second control signal to the power supply when the device to be calibrated is to be heated. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification