Temperature control system

Abstract

A system including: (i) a semiconductor device; (ii) a thermoelectric controller for controlling the temperature of the semiconductor device; (iii) an electrical power supply for powering the thermoelectric controller; (iv) a first device capable of determining both a direction and a magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller; (v) a second device also capable of determining a magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller; and (vi) a controller for controlling the first and second devices on the basis of an electrical indicator of the temperature of the semiconductor device so as to achieve a desired direction and magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller at a level of power consumption lower than could be achieved using the first device alone.

1 . A system including: (i) a semiconductor device; (ii) a thermoelectric controller for controlling the temperature of the semiconductor device; (iii) an electrical power supply for powering the thermoelectric controller; (iv) a first device capable of determining both a direction and a magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller; (v) a second device also capable of determining a magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller; and (vi) a controller for controlling the first and second devices on the basis of an electrical indicator of the temperature of the semiconductor device so as to achieve a desired direction and magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller at a level of power consumption lower than could be achieved using the first device alone. 
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor device is a laser. 
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second device is a DC-DC converter. 
   
   
       4 . A system according  claim 1 , wherein the first device comprises first, second, third and fourth transistors; said first and second transistors are connected in parallel to the power supply in parallel with the third and fourth transistors; and wherein the first and third transistors are connected in series to the thermoelectric controller and the second and fourth transistors are also connected in series to the thermoelectric controller. 
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller is a microprocessor and controls the second device and the first, second, third and fourth transistors via respective digital-analogue converters. 
   
   
       6 . A method for controlling the temperature of a semiconductor device using a thermoelectric controller, using a first device capable of determining both a magnitude and a direction of current through the thermoelectric controller; the method including the steps of providing a second device also capable of determining a magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller, and controlling the first and second devices to achieve a desired direction and magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller at a level of electric power consumption lower than could be achieved using the first device alone. 
   
   
       7 . A system including: (i) a semiconductor device; (ii) a thermoelectric controller for controlling the temperature of the semiconductor device; (iii) an electrical power supply for powering the thermoelectric controller; (iv) a first device capable of determining the direction of current through the thermoelectric controller; (v) a second device separate from the first device and capable of determining a magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller; and a controller for controlling the first and second devices on the basis of an electrical indicator of the temperature of the semiconductor device. 
   
   
       8 . A controller for controlling the temperature of a semiconductor device using a thermoelectric controller, wherein said controller is arranged to control a first device capable of determining both a magnitude and a direction of current through the thermoelectric controller and a second device also capable of determining a magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller, on the basis of an electrical indicator of the temperature of the semiconductor device so as to achieve a desired direction and magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller at a level of power consumption lower than could be achieved using the first device alone. 
   
   
       9 . An electronic circuit for controlling the temperature of a semiconductor device using a thermoelectric controller, the electronic circuit including: a first device capable of determining both a direction and a magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller; a second device also capable of determining a magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller; and a controller for controlling the first and second devices on the basis of an electrical indicator of the temperature of the semiconductor device so as to achieve a desired direction and magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller at a level of power consumption lower than could be achieved using the first device alone. 
   
   
       10 . A computer program product comprising program code means which when loaded into a computer controls the computer to carry out the method step of  claim 6  of controlling the first and second devices to achieve a desired direction and magnitude of current through the thermoelectric controller at a level of electric power consumption lower than could be achieved using the first device alone.