Thermoelectric module and method of controlling a thermoelectric module

摘要

A thermoelectric module includes a switching circuit for switching the connection between a first thermoelectric element and a second thermoelectric element between series connection and parallel connection, a voltage detecting circuit for controlling the switching circuit by detecting the voltage of the second thermoelectric element, and a storage battery circuit for storing electricity utilizing the voltages generated by the first thermoelectric element and the second thermoelectric element connected by the switching circuit. A voltage generated from an applied temperature difference is detected by the voltage detecting circuit. If there is a sufficient temperature difference, the first thermoelectric element and second thermoelectric element are connected in parallel by the switching circuit to charge the electricity in the storage battery circuit using the doubled current. If there is no sufficient temperature difference, the first thermoelectric element and second thermoelectric element are connected in series by the switching circuit.