Control circuitry for thermoelectric cooler
US4301658A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 1979 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 11, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D2400/36
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A portable cooler includes a urethane foam shell having a storage compartment and fan recess. An internal heat exchanger is mounted to a wall of the storage compartment and conducts heat out of the storage compartment by means of a thermally conductive block to an external heat exchanger mounted in the fan recess. An electric fan mounted in the fan recess blows outside air through fins of the external heat exchanger. A grill covers the fan recess. A solid state thermoelectric device is disposed between the external heat exchanger and the thermally conductive block. A control circuit includes a first thermistor which senses the temperature of the internal heat exchanger. A comparator having one input coupled to a temperature control reostat and another input coupled to the first thermistor controls a switch circuit which connects the terminals of the thermoelectric device and the terminals of the fan motor to a supply voltage conductor. A manual switch can be actuated to reverse the direction of current through the thermoelectric device, causing heating, rather than cooling, of the storage compartment. A protective circuit senses the temperature of a second thermistor located near t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.