Use of the Peltier effect to amplify and transform small signals

The operating principle of thermoelectric amplifiers, rectifiers, or frequency converters based on the Peltier effect is explained, and preliminary results are presented. The basic design calls for a thermojunction connected to the input signal, a thermistor or an element undergoing a metal-semiconductor phase transition, a constant-temperature chamber, a dc power supply to the temperature-sensitive element, and a resistor across which the output signal is extracted. Sample gain and rectification factor curves (as functions of the input signal) are shown, and it is predicted that the speed of the circuit (currently about of the order 10 msec) can be increased by using thin-film thermopiles.