Thermoelectric cooler

A thermoelectric heat pump for a thermal cycler or the like comprising:

• first and second different type thermoelectric legs having first and second opposing ends, and first and second diffusion barriers formed on the first and second opposing ends;
• bonding means operatively formed on the diffusion barriers of the opposing ends of the thermoelectric legs;
• and
• conductive tab means attached to the bonding means for connecting the legs in series to form a thermocouple;
• said bonding means comprising a tin-silver-indium solder or tin-silver-cadmium solder for providing a thermoelectric heat pump being cycled between low and high temperatures of about 0.degree. C. up to about 100.degree. C. at a rate of 1.degree. C. per second.

A thermoelectric cycler comprising:

• a sample holder means for holding samples;
• an improved thermoelectric heat pump operatively connected to the sample holder means for thermal cycling the sample holder between about 0.degree. C. and 100.degree. C. at a ramping rate of about 1.degree. C. per second, said thermoelectric heat pump including different type thermoelectric legs having first and second opposing ends, diffusion barriers formed on the first and second opposing ends, first and second arrays of conductor tab means, and a bonding means having a tin-silver-indium or a tin-silver-cadmium solder means for connecting the opposing ends of the thermoelectric legs and arrays of conductor tab means with the diffusion barrier material there between for forming thermoelectric couples, the tin-silver-indium or tin-silver-cadmium solder means being resistant to thermal stresses during the thermal cycling at the ramping rate whereby the number of cycles to failure of the thermoelectric heat pump is increased;
• a power supply means connected to the thermoelectric couples for supplying a dc current to the thermoelectric couples for producing alternating cold and hot effects;
• and
• a controller means connected to the power supply means for controlling the polarity of the dc current applied to the thermoelectric couples, for cycling the thermal cycler and setting the ramping rate.