Method and system for redundant thermoelectric coolers for integrated DWDM transmitter/receiver

A thermoelectric cooler apparatus for a fiber optic system, the apparatus comprising:

• a first plate coupled to the fiber optic system;
• a second plate for coupling to a heat sink;
• a first plurality of thermoelectric units being sandwiched between the first plate and the second plate, the first plurality of thermoelectric units being connected to each other electrically in series;
• a second plurality of thermoelectric units being sandwiched between the first plate and the second plate, the second plurality of thermoelectric units being connected electrically in series;
• wherein:
• the first plurality of thermoelectric units is electrically insulated from the second plurality of thermoelectric units;
• the first plurality of thermoelectric units is configured to enhance or retard a heat transfer between the first plate and the second plate in response to a first current flowing through the first plurality of thermoelectric units;
• the second plurality of thermoelectric units is configured to enhance or retard the heat transfer between the first plate and the second plate in response to a second current flowing through the second plurality of thermoelectric units;
• the first plurality of thermoelectric units and the second plurality of thermoelectric units are configured such that a cross-section of the thermoelectric cooler apparatus includes one or more of the second plurality of thermoelectric units being sandwiched by the first plurality of thermoelectric units, and an interleaved configuration of the first and second plurality of thermoelectric units is formed, such that the interleaved configuration provides uniform cooling and redundancy over a specific area;
• a first thermistor coupled to the first plate and configured to output a first temperature signal;
• a second thermistor coupled to the first plate and configured to output a second temperature signal;
• and
• a processing apparatus configured to receive the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal, process information associated with a predetermined temperature, the first temperature signal, and the second temperature signal, and adjust the first current based on at least the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal or based on a change in the second current.

A method for providing thermoelectric cooling for a fiber optic system, the method comprising:

• coupling a thermoelectric cooler apparatus with the fiber optic system, the thermoelectric cooler apparatus including:
• a first plate coupled to the fiber optic system;
• a second plate coupled to a heat sink;
• a first plurality of thermoelectric units being sandwiched between the first plate and the second plate, the first plurality of thermoelectric units being connected to each other electrically in series;
• a second plurality of thermoelectric units being sandwiched between the first plate and the second plate, the second plurality of thermoelectric units being connected to each other electrically in series;
• wherein:
• the second plurality of thermoelectric units is insulated, at least within the thermoelectric cooler apparatus, from the first plurality of thermoelectric units;
• the first plurality of thermoelectric units and the second plurality of thermoelectric units are configured such that a cross-section of the thermoelectric cooler apparatus includes one or more of the second plurality of thermoelectric units being sandwiched by the first plurality of thermoelectric units, and an interleaved configuration of the first and second plurality of thermoelectric units is formed, such that the interleaved configuration provides uniform cooling and redundancy over a specific area;
• receiving a first temperature signal from a first thermistor coupled to the first plate;
• receiving a second temperature signal from a second thermistor coupled to the first plate;
• processing information associated with a predetermined temperature, the first temperature signal, and the second temperature signal;
• and
• adjusting a first current flowing through the first plurality of thermoelectric units based on at least the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal or based on a change in a second current, the second current flowing through the second plurality of thermoelectric units.