Patent · US Active

Thermoelectric cooler with inrush current control

US7975493B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
12References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 12, 2007
Grant dateJul 12, 2011
Priority date—
Expiry dateFeb 22, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25B2700/21
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) in an optical transceiver. A TEC system includes a processor that interacts with a power supply and a TEC controller to prevent inrush current. The power supply is switched by the processor and turned on only at a particular time. The power supply has a relatively large time constant such that it ramps slowly to its full value. In the meantime, the processor and TEC controller cause the temperature to ramp to a target value by repeatedly incrementing or decrementing a target value over time and by controlling when the maximum available voltage can be applied to the TEC.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.