Apparatus for cooling charge coupled device imaging systems
US5596228A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jan 21, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/30
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for cooling charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging systems. The apparatus comprises a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to the imaging system for transferring heat away from and cooling the imaging system portion of the imaging system. The thermoelectric cooler has a cold side and an opposing hot side, with the cold side thermally coupled to the imaging sensor to enable the transfer of heat from the sensor in response to a supply of power. A power supply is coupled to the cooler for supplying required power. The hot side of the cooler is thermally coupled to a heat pipe, which is composed of a heat-conducting material having a hollow portion containing a wicking material and a working fluid. A heat sink is thermally coupled to the heat pipe enabling heat dissipation. The working fluid cyclically evaporates into vapor and condenses into liquid to effect the heat transfer from the heat pipe to the heat sink.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.