Thermoelectric modules and a heating and cooling apparatus incorporating same

• US 6,739,138 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Instantis Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Instantis Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Saunders, John, Jacob, Jamey D., Gao, Dayong, Myers, Michel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHULMAN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US10/186,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 62/33, 62/32, 62/36, 62/37
• US Class Current: 62/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/005 with controlled temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0233 connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments A61F2007/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0295 for heating or cooling or use at more than one temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0212 of electric power, current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/002 using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2107 of a Peltier element
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/00 Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00

Abstract

A heating and cooling apparatus to be applied to an object to control the temperature of the object. A number of thermoelectric modules are adapted to be positioned in contact with the object in a pattern. A voltage source is adapted to apply a voltage to the thermoelectric modules to cause a temperature change in each thermoelectric module so as to control the temperature of the object in accordance with the pattern and with the voltage applied to thermoelectric modules.

Claims

1. A heating and cooling apparatus adapted to be applied to an object to control the temperature of the object, said heating and cooling apparatus comprising:

a plurality of thermoelectric modules arranged in a substantially planar two-dimensional pattern and adapted to contact the object; and

a power source coupled to said thermoelectric modules to cause a temperature change in each thermoelectric module so as to control the temperature of the object in accordance with the pattern.

2. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric modules are arranged in an isotropic pattern.

3. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric modules are arranged in an anisotropic pattern.

4. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pattern is symmetrical.

5. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pattern is asymmetrical.

6. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said thermoelectric modules has a first surface and a second surface, and each module is responsive to applied voltage of a given polarity to increase the temperature of its first surface and to decrease the temperature of its second surface, and wherein the first surfaces of said thermoelectric modules define a substantially continuous surface.

7. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said thermoelectric modules has a first surface and a second surface, and each module is responsive to applied voltage of a given polarity to increase the temperature of its first surface and to decrease the temperature of its second surface, and wherein said apparatus has a substantially continuous surface including a first portion defined by the first surfaces of some of said thermoelectric modules and a second portion defined by the second surfaces of others of said thermoelectric modules.

8. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said substantially continuous surface further includes a twisted portion joining said first portion and said second portion.

9. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an electrical stimulating device to apply an electrical stimulus to the object.

10. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pressure device to apply pressure to the object.

11. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure applied to the object, and a controller responsive to the sensed pressure for controlling the pressure device to control the applied pressure.

12. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of said thermoelectric modules and a controller responsive to the sensed temperature for controlling said power source to control the temperature change.

13. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said controller is adapted to control the rate of change of temperature of said thermoelectric module.

14. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said controller is adapted to control the maximum temperature of said thermoelectric modules.

15. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said controller is adapted to control the minimum temperature of said thermoelectric modules.

16. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power source applies a constant voltage to said thermoelectric modules.

17. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power source comprises a voltage supply for supplying a voltage to said thermoelectric modules, and a controller for controlling the supplied voltage.

18. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said voltage source further comprises an input unit connected to said controller for receiving input signals and applying the received input signals to said controller to determine the control of the supplied voltage.

19. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said input unit comprises a wireless receiver for receiving the input signals from a wireless source.

20. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said wireless receiver comprises a short range wireless communication and control link.

21. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said wireless receiver comprises a Bluetooth receiver.

22. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said controller further comprises an authentication unit for receiving an authentication code authenticating the received input signals as being from an authorized source.

23. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said controller comprises a read only memory.

24. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said controller comprises a processor for controlling the supplied voltage, and a memory for storing a program for said processor.

25. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said controller further comprises an input unit for receiving a program for storage in said memory, permitting changing of the stored program.

26. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said input unit comprises a wireless receiver for receiving the program from a wireless source.

27. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein said wireless receiver comprises a short range wireless communication and control link.

28. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said wireless receiver comprises a Bluetooth receiver.

29. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said controller further comprises an authentication unit for receiving an authentication code authenticating the received program as being from an authorized source.

30. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said controller is adapted to vary the voltage level.

31. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein said controller comprises a shift register having a plurality of stages, a pulse source for selectively applying signals in sequence to the stages of said shift register, and a summing circuit for summing the signals within the stages of said shift register to provide a voltage level signal to determine the level of the voltage.

32. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein said controller causes said voltage source to apply voltages of different voltage levels to different ones of said thermoelectric modules.

33. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein said controller comprises an addressing unit for indicating the different ones of said thermoelectric modules to which the different voltage levels are to be applied.

34. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein said controller includes a memory map of said thermoelectric modules, and said addressing unit selects locations on said memory map to indicate the different ones of said thermoelectric modules.

35. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said controller causes said voltage source to apply pulses of voltage to said thermoelectric modules, and said controller varies the durations of the voltage pulses.

36. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein said controller controls said power supply to apply voltage pulses of different durations to different ones of said thermoelectric modules.

37. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said controller comprises an addressing unit for indicating the different ones of said thermoelectric modules to which pulses of different durations are to be applied.

38. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein said controller includes a memory map of said thermoelectric modules, and said addressing unit selects locations on said memory map to indicate the different ones of said thermoelectric modules.

39. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said controller is adapted to vary the voltage polarity.

40. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said controller comprises a digital controller.

41. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said controller includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of said thermoelectric modules, and a control unit for controlling the applied voltage so as to limit the rate of change of the temperature of said thermoelectric modules.

42. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said controller includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of said thermoelectric modules, and a control unit for controlling the applied voltage so as to limit the maximum temperature of said thermoelectric modules.

43. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said controller includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of said thermoelectric modules, and a control unit for controlling the applied voltage so as to limit the minimum temperature of said thermoelectric modules.

44. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric modules are arranged in an array of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, each column intersecting each of said plurality of rows.

45. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voltage source comprises a solar cell.

46. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cooler housing having said thermoelectric modules incorporated therein to provide a cooler for cooling items.

47. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an item of wearing apparel having said thermoelectric modules incorporated therein to maintain the temperature of a wearer at a temperature different from surrounding ambient temperature.

48. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a blanket having said thermoelectric modules incorporated therein to maintain the temperature of an object at a different level from surrounding ambient temperature.

49. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wrap adapted to be positioned around a part of a human body and having said thermoelectric modules incorporated therein to maintain the body part at a temperature different from surrounding ambient temperature.

51. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said controller comprises a field programmable device.

52. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric modules are arranged in a planar two-dimensional pattern that is flexible to conform with three-dimensional objects.

53. A heating and cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 51, wherein said controller comprises a field programmable gate array.

50. A heating and cooling apparatus, comprising:

a first thermoelectric module, including a first thermal conduction panel and a second thermal conduction panel;

a second thermoelectric module, including a third thermal conduction panel and a fourth thermal conduction panel;

a power source connected across said first and second thermal conduction panels to provide a voltage difference thereacross so as to raise the temperature of said first thermal conduction panel;

a thermal conductor thermally connecting said first thermal conduction panel and said third thermal conduction panel to conduct heat from said first thermal conduction panel to said third thermal conduction panel so as to create a temperature difference between said third thermal conduction panel and said fourth thermal conduction panel, resulting in a voltage difference across said third and fourth thermal conduction panels; and

means connected across said third and fourth thermal conduction panels to utilize the voltage thereacross.