초록 ▼

Fault tolerant thermoelectric device circuit (18) is provided including a plurality of thermoelectric elements (19, 20, 21, and 22) and a plurality of secondary by-pass circuits (24, 25, 26, and 27) coupled in parallel with a number of the thermoelectric elements. The secondary by-pass circuits prov

Fault tolerant thermoelectric device circuit (18) is provided including a plurality of thermoelectric elements (19, 20, 21, and 22) and a plurality of secondary by-pass circuits (24, 25, 26, and 27) coupled in parallel with a number of the thermoelectric elements. The secondary by-pass circuits provide by-pass paths to failed thermoelectric elements, thereby allowing the remaining elements to continue operating. Primary by-pass circuit (30) is also provided to provide a by-pass path to all of the thermoelectric elements as required.

대표청구항 ▼

A thermoelectric device comprising: at least one thermoelectric element; an electrical circuit for supplying electricity to said thermoelectric element; a by-pass circuit coupled in parallel with said thermoelectric element for providing an electrical path for electricity supplied to said thermoelec

A thermoelectric device comprising: at least one thermoelectric element; an electrical circuit for supplying electricity to said thermoelectric element; a by-pass circuit coupled in parallel with said thermoelectric element for providing an electrical path for electricity supplied to said thermoelectric element to by-pass said thermoelectric element in response to a failure of said thermoelectric element and to allow continued current flow through the electrical circuit; said by-pass circuit being operable to maintain substantially the same amount of current flow through the electrical circuit in response to said failure of said thermoelectric element; and said by-pass circuit having a normally off state which presents high impedance to said electrical circuit providing electricity to said thermoelectric element.