Device for regulating the temperature of at least one object and method for checking the functional capability of a sensor device having at least two sensors

12) A method for checking a functional capability of a sensor device having at least two sensors, the method comprising steps of:

• detecting a de facto temperature trending in an area of a thermoelectric element via at least one sensor of the sensor device;
• detecting a de facto temperature trending in the area of a processor unit coupled with the thermoelectric element, via at least one additional sensor of the sensor device, the additional sensor is configured as a component of the processor unit;
• comparing the de facto temperatures determined via the at least one sensor and the at least one additional sensor;
• and,
• making an assessment of the functional capability of the sensor device by means of the comparison.

17) A device for regulating a temperature of an object, the device comprising:

• a thermoelectric element that is a Peltier element for release of heating and/or cooling energy to the object;
• a processor unit coupled to the thermoelectric element for regulation to the thermoelectric element;
• and
• a sensor device, which has:
• a) at least one sensor for detecting a de facto temperature trending in an area of the thermoelectric element;
• and
• b) at least one additional sensor configured as a component of the processor unit for detecting a de facto temperature trending in an area of the processor unit,
• wherein the processor unit is connected with the sensor device, and is configured to compare the detected de facto temperatures,
• wherein the processor unit confirms the sensor device to be functionally capable if the de facto temperatures are trending identically,
• wherein the processor unit assesses a malfunction of the sensor device if the de facto temperatures diverge from each other, or diverge from each other within a certain range,
• wherein the processor unit is configured to check the thermoelectric element for a Seebeck voltage,
• wherein if the Seebeck voltage is present, the processor unit halts the comparison of the detected de facto temperatures, and if the Seebeck voltage is not present, the processor unit carries out the comparison of the detected de facto temperatures,
• wherein the thermoelectric element, the processor unit, and the sensor device are accommodated in a joint housing.