CARTRIDGE FOR MULTIPLE THERMOELECTRIC MODULES
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to controlling multiple Thermoelectric Coolers (TECs) to maintain a set point temperature of a chamber. In one embodiment, a controller receives temperature data corresponding to a temperature of the chamber. Based on the temperature data, the controller selectively controls two or more subsets of the TECs to maintain the temperature of the chamber at a desired set point temperature. In this manner, the controller is enabled to control the TECs such that the TECs operate to efficiently maintain the temperature of the chamber at the set point temperature. In another embodiment, the controller selects one or more control schemes enabled by the controller based on temperature data and a desired performance profile. The controller then independently controls one or more subsets of the TECs according to the selected control scheme(s).
1 . A cartridge for a plurality of thermoelectric modules, comprising:
an interconnect board comprising:
one or more conductive traces; and
one or more openings through the one or more conductive traces from a first surface of the interconnect board to a second surface of the interconnect board, the one or more openings defining locations at which the plurality of thermoelectric modules are to be mounted on the interconnect board.
2 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the one or more conductive traces are a single conductive trace, and the one or more openings are one or more openings through the single conductive trace from the first surface of the interconnect board to the second surface of the interconnect board that define locations at which the plurality of thermoelectric modules are to be mounted on the interconnect board such that the plurality of thermoelectric modules are connected in series by the single conductive trace.
3 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the one or more conductive traces are a plurality of conductive traces, and, for each conductive trace of the plurality of conductive traces, at least one of the one or more openings defines one or more locations at which one or more thermoelectric modules of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are to be mounted on the interconnect board such that the one or more thermoelectric modules are connected in series by the conductive trace.
4 . The cartridge of claim 3 wherein, for each conductive trace of at least one of the plurality of conductive traces, at least one of the one or more openings defines locations at which two or more thermoelectric modules of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are to be mounted on the interconnect board such that the two or more thermoelectric modules are connected in series by the conductive trace.
5 . The cartridge of claim 3 wherein the plurality of conductive traces and the one or more openings define locations at which two or more different subsets of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are to be mounted on the interconnect board such that the two or more different subsets of the plurality of thermoelectric modules can be independently controlled by controlling current through the plurality of conductive traces.
6 . The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising the plurality of thermoelectric modules, wherein each thermoelectric module of the plurality of thermoelectric modules is mounted over a corresponding one of the one or more openings and electrically connected in series with a corresponding one of the one or more conductive traces.
7 . The cartridge of claim 6 wherein, for each thermoelectric module of the plurality of thermoelectric modules, the thermoelectric module comprises a first contact that is electrically connected to the corresponding one of the one or more conductive traces on one side of the corresponding one of the one or more openings and a second contact that is electrically connected to the corresponding one of the one or more conductive traces on an opposite side of the corresponding one of the one or more openings.
8 . The cartridge of claim 6 wherein, for each thermoelectric module of the plurality of thermoelectric modules, a hot side of the thermoelectric module is exposed through the corresponding one of the one or more openings.
9 . The cartridge of claim 6 wherein, for each thermoelectric module of the plurality of thermoelectric modules, a cold side of the thermoelectric module is exposed through the corresponding one of the one or more openings.
10 . The cartridge of claim 6 wherein the one or more conductive traces are a single conductive trace, the one or more openings are one or more openings through the single conductive trace from the first surface of the interconnect board to the second surface of the interconnect board, and the plurality of thermoelectric modules are mounted over the one or more openings such that the plurality of thermoelectric modules are electrically connected in series by the single conductive trace.
11 . The cartridge of claim 10 wherein hot sides of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are exposed through the one or more openings.
12 . The cartridge of claim 10 wherein cold sides of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are exposed through the one or more openings.
13 . The cartridge of claim 6 wherein the one or more conductive traces is a plurality of conductive traces, and, for each conductive trace of the plurality of conductive traces, one or more thermoelectric modules in a different subset of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are mounted over at least one of the one or more openings such that the one or more thermoelectric modules are electrically connected in series by the conductive trace.
14 . The cartridge of claim 13 wherein hot sides of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are exposed through the one or more openings.
15 . The cartridge of claim 13 wherein cold sides of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are exposed through the one or more openings.
16 . The cartridge of claim 6 wherein the one or more conductive traces and the one or more openings define locations at which two or more different subsets of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are mounted on the interconnect board such that the two or more different subsets of the plurality of thermoelectric modules can be independently controlled by controlling current through the plurality of conductive traces.
17 . The cartridge of claim 16 wherein hot sides of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are exposed through the one or more openings.
18 . The cartridge of claim 16 wherein cold sides of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are exposed through the one or more openings.
19 . The cartridge of claim 6 wherein:
the one or more conductive traces comprise a first conductive trace; and
the plurality of thermoelectric modules comprise a first thermoelectric module mounted over one of the one or more openings that passes through the first conductive trace.
20 . The cartridge of claim 19 wherein the plurality of thermoelectric modules further comprise a second thermoelectric module mounted over one of the one or more openings that passes through the first conductive trace such that the second thermoelectric module is electrically connected in series with the first thermoelectric module via the first conductive trace.
21 . The cartridge of claim 20 wherein:
the one or more conductive traces further comprise a second conductive trace; and
the plurality of thermoelectric modules further comprise a third thermoelectric module mounted over one of the one or more openings that passes through the second conductive trace.
22 . The cartridge of claim 21 wherein the first and second conductive traces enable the first and second thermoelectric modules to be controlled independently from the third thermoelectric module.