MAX1968/MAX1969
Power Drivers for Peltier TEC Modules
Maxim Integrated | 15www.maximintegrated.com
Applications Information
The MAX1968/MAX1969 typically drive a thermoelectric
cooler inside a thermal control loop. TEC drive polarity
and power are regulated based on temperature infor-
mation read from a thermistor, or other temperature-
measuring device to maintain a stable control
temperature. Temperature stability of 0.01°C can be
achieved with carefully selected external components.
There are numerous ways to implement the thermal
loop. Figures 1 and 2 show a design that employs preci-
sion op amps, along with a DAC or potentiometer to set
the control temperature. The loop may also be imple-
mented digitally, using a precision A/D to read the ther-
mistor or other temperature sensor, a microcontroller to
implement the control algorithm, and a DAC (or filtered
PWM signal) to send the appropriate signal to the
MAX1968/MAX1969 CTLI input. Regardless of the form
taken by the thermal control circuitry, all designs are
similar in that they read temperature, compare it to a
set-point signal, and then send an error-correcting sig-
nal to the MAX1968/MAX1969 that moves the tempera-
ture in the appropriate direction.
Pin Configuration
Chip Information
TRANSISTOR COUNT: 2959
PROCESS: BiCMOS
PACKAGE
TYPE
PACKAGE
CODE
OUTLINE
NO.
LAND
PATTERN NO.
28 TSSOP U28E4
21-0108 90-0146
Package Information
For the latest package outline information and land patterns (foot-
prints), go to www.maximintegrated.com/packages
. Note that a
“+”, “#”, or “-” in the package code indicates RoHS status only.
Package drawings may show a different suffix character, but the
drawing pertains to the package regardless of RoHS status.
