Current-Mode control of Thermo-Electric cooler

Abstract

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for controlling the temperature of a thermoelectric cooler includes a current sensing circuit which is adapted to control the current through the thermoelectric cooler using proportional, integral, derivative (PID) processing.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling the operating temperature of a thermo-electric cooler, comprising: 
 a current-sense circuit which is adapted to control a current through the thermo-electric cooler based on a set-point temperature and a detected temperature of the thermo-electric cooler using proportional, integral, derivative (PID) processing.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said current-sense circuit limits a maximum current through the thermo-electric cooler.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said current through the TEC is controlled to approximately 2% or better.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a control block.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the control block further comprises a temperature monitor circuit and a proportional, integral, derivative (PID) controller.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a difference amplifier circuit.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a sense resistor is operatively connected to said thermo-electric cooler.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said difference amplifier further comprises an operational amplifier and a plurality of resistors including a sense resistor.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said difference amplifier controls an amount of current through the thermo-electric cooler.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of resistors are selected such that a maximum current through the thermoelectric cooler is not exceeded.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for controlling the operating temperature of a thermo-electric cooler, comprising: 
 a current-sense circuit which is adapted to control a current through the thermo-electric cooler.    
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said current-sense circuit limits a maximum current through the thermo-electric cooler.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said current through the TEC is controlled to approximately 2% or better.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a control block.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the control block further comprises a temperature monitor circuit and a proportional, integral, derivative (PID) controller.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a difference amplifier circuit.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein a sense resistor is operatively connected to said thermo-electric cooler.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said difference amplifier further comprises an operational amplifier and a plurality of resistors including a sense resistor.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said difference amplifier controls an amount of current through the thermo-electric cooler.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of resistors are selected such that a maximum current through the thermo-electric cooler is not exceeded.