Integrated circuit temperature gradient and moisture regulator

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein said apparatus whose temperature and moisture is to be regulated comprises a charge coupled device.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1, wherein said apparatus whose temperature and moisture is to be regulated comprises a solid state electronic circuit.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1, wherein said apparatus whose temperature and moisture is to be regulated comprises a mechanical device.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1, wherein said apparatus whose temperature and moisture is to be regulated comprises a transistor.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1, wherein said apparatus whose temperature and moisture is to be regulated is an electrical apparatus.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1, wherein said apparatus whose temperature and moisture is to be regulated is a solid state, electronic apparatus.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1, wherein said means effectively connected to said apparatus for the effective packaging thereof in such manner as to effect the support thereof and thermally isolate it from its ambient environment comprises: a cup-shaped insulator having a plurality of substantially parallel walls and a wall interconnecting said parallel walls at one of the ends of each thereof, with the other ends of said substantially parallel walls having surfaces upon which said apparatus is mounted; a printed circuit board disposed in contact with one of the surfaces of the aforesaid interconnecting wall of the aforesaid cup-shaped insulator; and a pair of clamps connected to said printed circuit board and a predetermined surface of said apparatus in such manner as to hold said apparatus against a portion of the end surfaces of the respective other ends of the substantially parallel walls of said cup-shaped insulator.

Claim 10

The device of claim 1, wherein said heat pipe is a metallic hollow pipe capable of containing a refrigerant type of fluid that is disposed in effective contact with and between a surface of the hot junction of said thermoelectric cooler and an inside surface of said packaging means.

Claim 11

The device of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric cooler means comprises a thermocouple.

Claim 12

The device of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric cooler means comprises a thermopile.

Claim 13

The device of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric heater means comprises a thermocouple.

Claim 14

The device of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric heater means comprises a thermopile.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 1, further characterized by means connected to the end of said heat pipe that is opposite the end thereof that extends through the wall of said packaging means for conducting heat therefrom.

Claim 16

The device of claim 14, wherein said means connected to the end of said heat pipe that is opposite the end thereof that extends through the wall of said packaging means for conducting heat therefrom comprises a plurality of cooling fins.

Claim 17

The device of claim 14, wherein said means connected to the end of said heat pipe that is opposite the end thereof that extends through the wall of said packaging means for conducting heat therefrom comprises a refrigerant source.

Claim 18

The device of claim 14, wherein said means connected to the end of said heat pipe that is opposite the end thereof that extends through the wall of said packaging means for conducting heat therefrom comprises a temperature control system.

Claim 19

The device of claim 14, wherein said means connected to the end of said heat pipe that is opposite the end thereof that extends through the wall of said packaging means for conducting heat therefrom comprises a thermoelectric cooler having a cold junction, a hot junction, and a thermopile therebetween, with the cold junction thereof effectively thermally connected to said heat pipe.

Claim 20

The device of claim 14, wherein said means connected to the end of said heat pipe that is opposite the end thereof that extends through the wall of said packaging means for conducting heat therefrom comprises: a thermoelectric cooler having a cold junction, a hot junction, and a thermopile therebetween, with the cold junction thereof effectively thermally connected to said heat pipe; and a heat exchanger thermally connected to the hot junction of said thermoelectric cooler.

Claim 21

A charge coupled device temperature gradient and moisture regulator, comprising in combination: a substantially cup-shaped insulator having a predetermined space therewithin; a charge coupled device mounted on the open end of said substantially cup-shaped insulator; an elongated heat pipe disposed in contact with an inside surface of said substantially cup-shaped insulator and extending through one of the walls thereof; a thermoelectric cooler means having hot and cold junctions, with one of the junctions thereof thermally connected to a predetermined area of said charge coupled device, and with the other junction thereof thermally connected to a predetermined area of the aforesaid elongated heat pipe; a thermoelectric heater means having hot and cold junctions, with one of the junctions thereof thermally connected to a predetermined area of said charge coupled device, and with the other junction thereof thermally connected to a predetermined area of the aforesaid elongated heat pipe; power supply means connected to the hot and cold junctions of said thermoelectric cooler and heater means in such manner as to effect the timely electrical energization thereof; and means thermally connected to a predetermined area of the aforesaid heat pipe for extracting heat therefrom.

Claim 22

A charge coupled device temperature gradient and moisture regulator, comprising in combination: a substantially cup-shaped insulator having a predetermined space therewithin; a charge coupled device mounted on the open end of said substantially cup-shaped insulator; an elongated heat pipe disposed in contact with an inside surface of said substantially cup-shaped insulator and extending through one of the walls thereof; a thermoelectric cooler means having hot and cold junctions, with one of the junctions thereof thermally connected to a predetermined area of said charge coupled device, and with the other junction thereof thermally connected to a predetermined area of the aforesaid elongated heat pipe; a thermoelectric heater means having hot and cold junctions, with one of the junctions thereof thermally connected to a predetermined area of said charge coupled device, and with the other junction thereof thermally connected to a predetermined area of the aforesaid elongated heat pipe; power supply means connected to the hot and cold junctions of said thermoelectric cooler and heater means in such manner as to effect the timely electrical energization thereof; and means thermally connected to a predetermined area of the aforesaid heat pipe for extracting heat therefrom.

Claim 23

The device of claim 20, wherein said substantially cup-shaped insulator is a plastic insulator.

Claim 24

The device of claim 20, wherein said one junction of said thermoelectric cooler means that is connected to a predetermined area of said charge coupled device is a cold junction, and the other junction thereof that is thermally connected to a predetermined area of the aforesaid elongated heat pipe is a hot junction.

Claim 25

The device of claim 20, wherein said one junction of said thermoelectric heater means that is connected to a predetermined area of said charge coupled device is a hot junction, and the other junction thereof that is thermally connected to a predetermined area of the aforesaid elongated heat pipe is a cold junction.

Claim 26

The device of claim 20, wherein said thermoelectric heater means comprises a predetermined plurality of thermoelectric heaters.

Claim 27

The device of claim 20, wherein said thermoelectric cooler means comprises a predetermined plurality of thermoelectric coolers.

Claim 28

The invention of claim 20, further characterized by potting means disposed within that portion of the space within the aforesaid substantially cup-shaped insulator not occupied by said thermoelectric cooler and heater means.

Claim 29

The invention of claim 20, further characterized by: a first heat-conducting gasket means disposed in thermal contact between the cold junction of said thermoelectric cooler means and said predetermined area of said charge coupled device; and a second heat-conducting gasket means disposed in thermal contact between the hot junction of said thermoelectric heater means and said predetermined area of said charge coupled device.