Versatile temperature control solution provided by new analog technology

Anadigm, Inc. has published an application note detailing how field-programmable analog arrays (FPAAs) simplify the control of Peltier-effect thermo-electric coolers. Peltier devices are widely employed for the precision temperature control of electronic equipment, including lasers and new generations of optoelectronic devices for DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing) communications applications.

The app-note shows how the programmable analog technology may be used to implement a one-chip proportional-integral controller, providing a lower component count solution for temperature control than designs based on conventional discrete analog components, microprocessors/DSPs, or even ICs specifically targeted at thermo-electric cooler control.

Unlike conventional design approaches, the FPAA can be tuned or adapted in minutes to suit particular Peltier devices or application conditions, and moreover, may be reconfigured on-the-fly when in-service. This latter technique could be used to dynamically modify the control loop when the Peltier device is heating or cooling for example, to account for the different response characteristics exhibited during these modes - a feat which would be extremely difficult and expensive to achieve by other means.

Source: Anadigm, Inc.