This reference design is suitable for applications needing strict temperature control, including consumer electronics, industrial processes, and medical devices, ensuring optimal operation, precise regulation, and stability.
High-precision Thermoelectric Peltier Controllers are crucial in modern technology due to their ability to maintain precise temperature conditions across various applications. These controllers ensure optimal performance and longevity of sensitive components in consumer electronics, enhance accuracy and consistency in industrial manufacturing processes, and provide stable environments necessary for the reliable operation of medical diagnostic and therapeutic devices. Their precision and reliability are essential for advancing technology and improving quality standards in diverse fields.
This reference design RX23E-A by renesas electronics details a high-precision Thermoelectric Peltier Controller (TEC) using the RX23E-A MCU, featuring an advanced Analog Front End (AFE). The RX23E-A MCU integrates measurement, calculation, and control functionalities required for precise temperature management, all within a single chip solution. The TEC leverages the Peltier effect to control temperature through heating and cooling processes. It finds extensive use in consumer and industrial applications due to its ability to switch between heating and cooling by simply reversing the current direction. Key features of the TEC include easy switching for seamless transitions between heating and cooling, high precision and fast response times for achieving precise temperature control, and miniaturization with low noise due to the absence of mechanical components, facilitating compact design and eliminating vibration and noise.
It comprises three main components: an application note providing detailed instructions on control design, hardware design including schematics and layout considerations, and software design containing the sample program and implementation guidelines. The hardware design centers around the RX23E-A MCU, which integrates a high-precision AFE, enabling accurate temperature measurements. The TEC module, powered by the RX23E-A, efficiently manages the thermoelectric elements for both heating and cooling functions. The software design includes a sample program demonstrating the TEC’s capabilities, enabling the RX23E-A to perform real-time temperature monitoring, calculation, and control, ensuring precise temperature regulation.
Comprehensive Solution
A demo unit was test-manufactured to evaluate the response characteristics and control resolution of the TEC. The key findings include improved response time, where the TEC with temperature control reduced the time to reach 63.2% of the final temperature from 24.9 seconds to 3.18 seconds, highlighting the controller’s enhanced responsiveness. The TEC also demonstrated high control resolution, responding accurately to changes in command values in 5m℃ increments, confirming its high precision. It offers a comprehensive solution for precise temperature control by integrating measurement, calculation, and control in a single MCU, simplifying the development process and enhancing performance. The provided application note, hardware, and software designs enable easy implementation and rapid prototyping. The demo unit’s evaluation underscores the TEC’s superior responsiveness and high control resolution, making it a robust choice for various temperature-sensitive applications.
Renesas has tested this reference design. It comes with a bill of materials (BOM), schematics, assembly drawing, printed circuit board (PCB) layout, etc. You can find additional data about the reference design on the company’s website. To read more about this reference design, click here.
