초록 ▼

A temperature controller senses whether the temperature of a body (30) is higher or lower than a desired temperature, and then heats or cools the body (30) in either a high power mode or a low power mode. The controller operates in the low power mode if the elapsed time from the last change from hea

A temperature controller senses whether the temperature of a body (30) is higher or lower than a desired temperature, and then heats or cools the body (30) in either a high power mode or a low power mode. The controller operates in the low power mode if the elapsed time from the last change from heating to cooling or cooling to heating is less than a predetermined time interval. This condition typically occurs when the temperature of the body (30) is near the desired temperature, i.e., the controller is switching back and forth from heating to cooling in fairly short time intervals. If the elapsed time is longer than the predetermined time interval, as typically occurs when the temperature of the body (30) is being changed to a new desired temperature, the controller operates in the high power mode.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for controlling the temperature of a body comprising the steps of: (a) generating a digital status signal which indicates whether the temperature of the body is greater than or less than a desired temperature; (b) timing an interval following each change of said digital status signal; (c) g

A method for controlling the temperature of a body comprising the steps of: (a) generating a digital status signal which indicates whether the temperature of the body is greater than or less than a desired temperature; (b) timing an interval following each change of said digital status signal; (c) generating a first pulse train and a second pulse train, said first pulse train having a duty cycle which is less than the duty cycle of said second pulse train; (d) passing said first pulse train to a signal node prior to expiration of the time interval; (e) passing said second pulse train to said signal node after expiration of the time interval; and (f) heating or cooling the body in response to said digital status signal and at a rate related to the duty cycle of the signal appearing at said signal node.