Patent · US9719702B2 · B2 · US

Temperature adjustment apparatus and method of controlling Peltier element

(11) Publication number

US9719702B2

(21) Application number

14/371,783

(22) Filing date

2012-08-10

(30) Priority date

2012-01-13

(43) Publication date

2017-08-01

(45) Date of grant

2017-08-01

(52) CPC

B60L Propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles; supplying electric power for auxiliary equipment of electrically-propelled vehicles; electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general; magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles; monitoring operating variables of electrically-propelled vehicles; electric safety devices for electrically-propelled vehicles: 58/18, 1/06, 11/14, 11/1868, 11/1875, 11/1879, 2210/10, 2210/40, 2240/36, 2240/545, 2240/662, 3/003, 3/0046, 50/16, 50/64, 58/20, 58/26, 58/27
F25B Refrigeration machines, plants or systems; combined heating and refrigeration systems; heat pump systems: 21/02, 2321/02
H01M Processes or means, e.g. batteries, for the direct conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy: 10/63, 10/6572, 10/66, 2220/20
Y02E Reduction of greenhouse gas [ghg] emissions, related to energy generation, transmission or distribution: 60/10
Y02T Climate change mitigation technologies related to transportation: 10/70, 10/7005, 10/7066, 10/7072, 10/7077, 10/72, 10/7216, 10/7241, 10/7291, 90/16

(73) Assignee

MURATA TAKASHI; KUWAHARA KUNIAKI; TOYOTA MOTOR CO LTD

(54) Title

Temperature adjustment apparatus and method of controlling Peltier element

(57) Abstract

A temperature adjustment apparatus has a Peltier element supplied with electric power to allow heat exchange between an electronic device mounted on a vehicle and a heat exchange portion of the vehicle, and a Peltier element control section that controls electric power supplied to the Peltier element. When the temperature difference between a first surface of the Peltier element serving as an exothermic surface and a second surface of the Peltier element serving as an endothermic surface becomes larger than a first predetermined value as a result of supply of electric power to the Peltier element, the Peltier element control section stops supply of electric power to the Peltier element.

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Claims (4)

A temperature adjustment apparatus comprising: a Peltier element supplied with electric power to allow heat exchange between an electronic device mounted on a vehicle and a heat exchange portion of the vehicle; a Peltier element temperature sensor that detects a temperature of a first surface of the Peltier element serving as an exothermic surface and a temperature of a second surface of the Peltier element serving as an endothermic surface; an electronic control unit operatively connected to the Peltier element and the Peltier element temperatures sensor, the electronic control unit configured to: control the electric power supplied to the Peltier element; obtain information on a temperature of air outside the electronic device; store drive condition information in which the temperature of air outside the electronic device, an electric power supplied to the Peltier element and a supply time period during which electric power is supplied are associated with each other; determine the electric power continuously supplied to the Peltier element during a continuous energization based on the temperature of air outside the electronic device; and determine the electric power and the supply time period during an intermittent energization based on the electric power during the continuous energization, the intermittent energization being a state in which a deenergizing state and an energizing state are alternately occurred, the deenergizing state being a state in which no electric power is supplied to the Peltier element, the energizing state being a state in which electric power is supplied to the Peltier element, wherein the electronic control unit executes, according to a determination made by the electronic control unit, temperature maintenance control in which the deenergizing state is occurred when the temperature difference between the first surface of the Peltier element and the second surface of the Peltier element becomes larger than a first predetermined value as a result of supply of electric power to the Peltier element, and the energizing state is restarted when the temperature difference between the first and second surfaces is reduced to a second predetermined value smaller than the first predetermined value after supply of electric power to the Peltier element is stopped, wherein the electronic control unit executes the continuous energization until the temperature of the electronic device reaches a target temperature and the electronic control unit executes the intermittent energization after the temperature of the electronic device reaches the target temperature.
The temperature adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the electronic device is repeatedly increased and reduced between the target temperature and a lower limit temperature lower than the target temperature in the temperature maintenance control, and wherein a COP (coefficient of performance) of the Peltier element during the temperature maintenance control is higher than a COP (coefficient of performance) of the Peltier element when the temperature of the electronic device is maintained at a fixed temperature corresponding to an intermediate temperature between the target temperature and the lower limit temperature by continuously supplying constant electric power to the Peltier element.
The temperature adjustment apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a case in which the electronic device is housed, wherein the information on the temperature of air outside the electronic device is acquired from a sensor provided on an external surface of the case; the heat exchange portion includes part of the case and extends to a position inside a duct provided on the vehicle, air being passed through the duct; and the Peltier element is in contact with the electronic device and with the heat exchange portion.
The temperature adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a case in which the electronic device is housed, wherein the information on the temperature of air outside the electronic device is acquired from a sensor provided on an external surface of the case; the heat exchange portion includes part of the case and extends to a position inside a duct provided on the vehicle, air being passed through the duct; and the Peltier element is in contact with the electronic device and with the heat exchange portion.

Citations (7)

JP2009110829A
JPH08148189A
JPH11317481A
US2005039465A1
US2008098750A1
US5867990A
WO2011062551A1

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US9719702B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Temperature adjustment apparatus and method of controlling Peltier element",
  "abstract": "A temperature adjustment apparatus has a Peltier element supplied with electric power to allow heat exchange between an electronic device mounted on a vehicle and a heat exchange portion of the vehicle, and a Peltier element control section that controls electric power supplied to the Peltier element. When the temperature difference between a first surface of the Peltier element serving as an exothermic surface and a second surface of the Peltier element serving as an endothermic surface becomes larger than a first predetermined value as a result of supply of electric power to the Peltier element, the Peltier element control section stops supply of electric power to the Peltier element.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A temperature adjustment apparatus comprising: a Peltier element supplied with electric power to allow heat exchange between an electronic device mounted on a vehicle and a heat exchange portion of the vehicle; a Peltier element temperature sensor that detects a temperature of a first surface of the Peltier element serving as an exothermic surface and a temperature of a second surface of the Peltier element serving as an endothermic surface; an electronic control unit operatively connected to the Peltier element and the Peltier element temperatures sensor, the electronic control unit configured to: control the electric power supplied to the Peltier element; obtain information on a temperature of air outside the electronic device; store drive condition information in which the temperature of air outside the electronic device, an electric power supplied to the Peltier element and a supply time period during which electric power is supplied are associated with each other; determine the electric power continuously supplied to the Peltier element during a continuous energization based on the temperature of air outside the electronic device; and determine the electric power and the supply time period during an intermittent energization based on the electric power during the continuous energization, the intermittent energization being a state in which a deenergizing state and an energizing state are alternately occurred, the deenergizing state being a state in which no electric power is supplied to the Peltier element, the energizing state being a state in which electric power is supplied to the Peltier element, wherein the electronic control unit executes, according to a determination made by the electronic control unit, temperature maintenance control in which the deenergizing state is occurred when the temperature difference between the first surface of the Peltier element and the second surface of the Peltier element becomes larger than a first predetermined value as a result of supply of electric power to the Peltier element, and the energizing state is restarted when the temperature difference between the first and second surfaces is reduced to a second predetermined value smaller than the first predetermined value after supply of electric power to the Peltier element is stopped, wherein the electronic control unit executes the continuous energization until the temperature of the electronic device reaches a target temperature and the electronic control unit executes the intermittent energization after the temperature of the electronic device reaches the target temperature.",
    "2. The temperature adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the electronic device is repeatedly increased and reduced between the target temperature and a lower limit temperature lower than the target temperature in the temperature maintenance control, and wherein a COP (coefficient of performance) of the Peltier element during the temperature maintenance control is higher than a COP (coefficient of performance) of the Peltier element when the temperature of the electronic device is maintained at a fixed temperature corresponding to an intermediate temperature between the target temperature and the lower limit temperature by continuously supplying constant electric power to the Peltier element.",
    "3. The temperature adjustment apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a case in which the electronic device is housed, wherein the information on the temperature of air outside the electronic device is acquired from a sensor provided on an external surface of the case; the heat exchange portion includes part of the case and extends to a position inside a duct provided on the vehicle, air being passed through the duct; and the Peltier element is in contact with the electronic device and with the heat exchange portion.",
    "4. The temperature adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a case in which the electronic device is housed, wherein the information on the temperature of air outside the electronic device is acquired from a sensor provided on an external surface of the case; the heat exchange portion includes part of the case and extends to a position inside a duct provided on the vehicle, air being passed through the duct; and the Peltier element is in contact with the electronic device and with the heat exchange portion."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "B60L 58/18",
    "B60L 1/06",
    "B60L 11/14",
    "B60L 11/1868",
    "B60L 11/1875",
    "B60L 11/1879",
    "B60L 2210/10",
    "B60L 2210/40",
    "B60L 2240/36",
    "B60L 2240/545",
    "B60L 2240/662",
    "B60L 3/003",
    "B60L 3/0046",
    "B60L 50/16",
    "B60L 50/64",
    "B60L 58/20",
    "B60L 58/26",
    "B60L 58/27",
    "F25B 21/02",
    "F25B 2321/02",
    "H01M 10/63",
    "H01M 10/6572",
    "H01M 10/66",
    "H01M 2220/20",
    "Y02E 60/10",
    "Y02T 10/70",
    "Y02T 10/7005",
    "Y02T 10/7066",
    "Y02T 10/7072",
    "Y02T 10/7077",
    "Y02T 10/72",
    "Y02T 10/7216",
    "Y02T 10/7241",
    "Y02T 10/7291",
    "Y02T 90/16"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "MURATA TAKASHI",
    "KUWAHARA KUNIAKI",
    "TOYOTA MOTOR CO LTD"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-08-10",
  "publication_date": "2017-08-01",
  "grant_date": "2017-08-01",
  "priority_date": "2012-01-13",
  "application_number": "US-201214371783-A",
  "family_id": "48781131",
  "citations": [
    "JP2009110829A",
    "JPH08148189A",
    "JPH11317481A",
    "US2005039465A1",
    "US2008098750A1",
    "US5867990A",
    "WO2011062551A1"
  ]
}

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