초록 ▼

A highly efficient thermoelectric cooler controller for temperature stabilization. The circuit comprises a temperature sensor and a thermoelectric cooler, both in thermal communication with a component to be temperature stabilized. The circuit further comprises a power amplifier electrically coupled

A highly efficient thermoelectric cooler controller for temperature stabilization. The circuit comprises a temperature sensor and a thermoelectric cooler, both in thermal communication with a component to be temperature stabilized. The circuit further comprises a power amplifier electrically coupled to the thermoelectric cooler. The power amplifier is employed as a controlled current source to efficiently supply current to the thermoelectric cooler when maximum cooling is required.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A thermoelectric cooler circuit comprising:a temperature sensor in thermal communication with a component;a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the component; anda power amplifier electrically coupled to the thermoelectric cooler, the power amplifier operating as a controlled curr

1. A thermoelectric cooler circuit comprising:a temperature sensor in thermal communication with a component;a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the component; anda power amplifier electrically coupled to the thermoelectric cooler, the power amplifier operating as a controlled current source to efficiently supply current to the thermoelectric cooler when maximum cooling of the component is required,wherein the impedance of the thermoelectric cooler drops substantially all of a supply voltage when meeting a maximum cooling requirement of the component.2. The thermoelectric cooler circuit of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.3. The thermoelectric cooler circuit of claim 2 further including a voltage divider circuit, wherein the thermistor is included in the voltage divider circuit.4. The thermoelectric cooler circuit of claim 2, wherein the voltage drop across the thermistor is compared to a reference voltage which corresponds to the voltage drop across the thermistor when the thermistor is operated at a desired setpoint temperature.5. The thermoelectric cooler circuit of claim 1, wherein the power amplifier is a power FET.6. A method of operating thermoelectric cooler circuitry comprising:selecting a thermoelectric cooler to have an optimal operating current that corresponds with the maximum cooling requirement of a component to be temperature-controlled;selecting the thermoelectric cooler to have an impedance that drops substantially all of the supply voltage when the thermoelectric cooler is operated to provide a maximum cooling requirement to the component;placing a temperature sensor and the thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the component, the temperature sensor and the thermoelectric cooler being electrically coupled to a power amplifier;sensing the temperature of the component using the temperature sensor; andoperating the power amplifier as a controlled current source to supply current to the thermoelectric cooler at near-perfect efficiency when maximum cooling of the component is required.7. The method of claim 6, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermistor.8. The method of claim 6, comprising providing a voltage divider circuit and a regulated supply voltage and integrating the thermistor into the voltage divider circuit.9. The method of claim 6 further comprising operating the power amplifier using a power supply voltage of approximately 5 volts or less.