Power control circuit for improved power application and temperature control of low voltage thermoelectric devices

A power control system for a thermoelectric device to maintain the temperature of the thermoelectric device at a set point, said power control system comprising:

• rectifying means for producing rectified alternating current when receiving an input of alternating current power;
• a flyback power supply including a flyback transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said secondary winding including means to rectify any AC voltage produced therein and produce a DC voltage, said secondary winding operatively connected to said thermoelectric device to power said thermoelectric device with the DC voltage from said means to rectify;
• switching means having a control input, said switching means and said primary winding of said flyback transformer are connected in series between said rectified alternating current and ground, said switching means, when activated, modulates the rectified alternating current across the primary winding of the flyback transformer to provide an AC field across the primary winding which improves efficiency and minimizes component cost compared to control on the secondary winding side of the flyback transformer;
• sensor means operatively positioned to monitor the temperature associated with said thermoelectric device;
• and
• programmable control means to receive an output from said sensor means and provide a control signal to said control input of said switching means, said control signal being determined by the difference between the sensed temperature of said thermoelectric device and the desired set point of said thermoelectric device to allow the DC voltage to the thermoelectric device to bring the temperature of the thermoelectric device to the set point and maintain the temperature of the thermoelectric device at the set point.