Energy efficient active cooling of integrated circuits using autonomous Peltier/Seebeck mode switching of a thermoelectric module

Thermoelectric (TE) devices have shown promise for on-demand cooling of ICs. However, the additional energy required for cooling remains a challenge for the successful deployment of these devices. This paper presents a closed loop control system that dynamically switches a TE module between Peltier and Seebeck modes depending on chip temperature. The autonomous system harvests energy during regular operation and uses the harvested energy to cool during high power operation. The system is demonstrated using a commercial thin-film TE device, an integrated boost regulator and few off chip components. The feasibility of the integration of the TEM and the automated mode switching within the microprocessor package is also evaluated.