Unitary thermoelectric heating and cooling device

Abstract

A unitary thermoelectric heating and cooling device for foodstuffs is described. In one embodiment, the device includes at least one detachable container to place food stuffs and a sturdy platform which holds the detachable container, comprising at least one thermoelectric module, wherein said module selectively heats or cools food stuffs in the detachable container depending upon desired temperature set, independent to ambient temperature. Further, the device includes a temperature adjusting slider, wherein desired temperature is set and depending on the set temperature, the direction of flow of current in the module is automated through DPDT switch. In another embodiment, a method for heating and cooling food stuffs using said device includes setting the desired temperature using a temperature adjusting slider, automating the flow of current in a thermoelectric module depending on the set temperature and selectively heating or cooling food stuffs in a detachable container depending on the desired temperature.

1 . A unitary thermoelectric heating and cooling device comprising:
 at least one detachable container to place food stuffs; and   a sturdy platform which holds the detachable container, comprising at least one thermoelectric module, wherein the thermoelectric module selectively heats or cools the food stuffs in the detachable container depending upon a desired temperature set, independent to the ambient temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The unitary device of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable container is made up of metallic material with high thermal conductivity, and a base of the detachable container is braced with metallic fins such as aluminum fins and forged with metallic plate like copper plate, thereby increasing the efficiency of dissipating heat from the surface of the sturdy platform. 
     
     
         3 . The unitary device of  claim 1 , wherein the sturdy platform comprises one or more thermoelectric modules depending on the size of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The unitary device of  claim 1  further comprises a power supply circuit coupled to the thermoelectric module for regulating AC input voltage and converting AC input voltage to DC output voltage, to supply the DC output voltage to the thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         5 . The unitary device of  claim 3 , wherein the inputs of the power supply circuit is connected to an external power supply through a connector and/or a removable battery for cordless operation. 
     
     
         6 . The unitary device of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module is interfaced using a thin graphite flat patch to increase the junction's thermal efficiency. 
     
     
         7 . The unitary device of  claim 1  further comprises a means to set the desired temperature such as temperature adjusting slider, wherein the desired temperature is set using the temperature adjusting slider and depending on the set temperature, a direction of flow of current in the thermoelectric module is automated. 
     
     
         8 . The unitary device of  claim 7 , wherein the direction of flow of current in the thermoelectric module is achieved using an automated double pole double throw (DPDT) switch depending on the temperature set in the temperature adjusting slider. 
     
     
         9 . A method for heating and cooling food stuffs using a unitary thermoelectric heater and cooler device comprising steps of:
 setting the desired temperature using a means to set desired temperature such as a temperature adjusting slider;   automating the flow of direction of current in at least one thermoelectric module depending on the set temperature through a double pole double throw (DPDT) switch; and   selectively heating or cooling food stuffs in at least one detachable container depending on the desired temperature, independent to the ambient temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprises regulating an AC input voltage, converting the regulated AC input voltage to a DC voltage, and supplying the DC output voltage to the at least one thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a removable battery can be used to power the thermoelectric module for cordless operation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein one direction of flow of current in the thermoelectric module heats up the food stuffs about 100° C. in the detachable container and the reverse direction cools the food stuffs about 0° C. in the detachable container. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the detachable container is made up of metallic material which high thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the regulation of the AC power supply is achieved by a limit circuit and the AC to DC voltage conversion is achieved by a full wave diode bridge circuit.