JP2010040687A - Peltier drive circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a Peltier drive circuit that reduces common mode noise and comprises a small number of circuit elements. <P>SOLUTION: In the Peltier drive circuit, a common mode filter is inserted between a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal smoothing filter and a Peltier element. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a Peltier drive circuit, and more particularly to a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control type Peltier drive circuit.

  In an optical communication system capable of high-speed communication, a temperature adjusting element is used to operate an optical device such as a laser diode at a constant temperature. As this temperature adjusting element, a Peltier element that is small in size and capable of heating and absorbing heat depending on the direction of current flow is used. As a method for driving and controlling these Peltier elements, there is a PWM control method using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation).

  FIG. 3 shows a Peltier drive circuit 20 of the PWM control system disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 (TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DRV591 (trade name) data sheet, p. 11 FIG. 17). The Peltier drive circuit 20 includes a PWM controller 21, a drive circuit 22, a filter circuit 23, and a Peltier element 24. The drive circuit 22 outputs a PWM + signal 27 and a PWM− signal 28 in response to an input signal 26 input to the PWM controller 21. DC components of the two PWM signals are extracted by the respective circuits of the filter circuit 23 and supplied to both terminals of the Peltier element 24. In FIG. 3, both terminals of the Peltier element 24 are PWM-controlled, and a filter composed of an inductor and a capacitor is provided for each terminal. A similar bipolar PWM control circuit is shown in FIG. 3 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-247694.

  Furthermore, as an improved method of FIG. 3, a circuit method using only one inductor and a capacitor as shown in FIG. 4 has been devised (Non-patent Document 2: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DRV593 / DRV594 (trade name) data sheet, P .14 Figure 22). A Peltier drive circuit 30 shown in FIG. 4 is a single-pole PWM control system, and includes a PWM controller 31, a drive circuit 32, a filter circuit 33, and a Peltier element 34. The drive circuit 32 outputs a PWM signal 37 and a heat / cool signal 38 (hereinafter abbreviated as H / C signal) in response to an input signal 36 input to the PWM controller 31. The PWM signal 37 and the H / C signal 38 are supplied to both terminals of the Peltier element 24.

  In the Peltier drive circuit 20 of FIG. 3, a filter composed of two inductors and two capacitors is necessary. However, the Peltier drive circuit 30 of FIG. 4 can form a filter using one inductor and one capacitor. As described above, when the improved system of FIG. 4 is used, a Peltier drive circuit that can reduce the number of components and reduce the mounting area of the components can be obtained.

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DRV591 (trade name) data sheet, page 11 Figure 17 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DRV593 / DRV594 (trade name) data sheet, page 14 Figure 22 JP 2004-247694 A

  As described above, when the Peltier drive circuit of the single pole PWM control in the improved system of FIG. 4 is used, the number of inductors and capacitors used is small, which is advantageous in terms of component mounting area. However, the PWM signal 37 and the heat / cool signal 38 change simultaneously at the point where the polarity of the Peltier voltage is switched. As described above, when both terminals of the Peltier element 34 change by the same amount at the same time, there arises a new problem that common mode noise is generated. In addition, in the inductor and capacitor in the improved system of FIG. 4, it is difficult to reduce common mode noise because common mode voltage fluctuations occur even after passing through the filter. Therefore, a circuit for reducing the influence of noise must be provided in the peripheral circuit, which causes a new problem that the component mounting area increases.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the above-described common mode noise, and to provide a Peltier drive circuit having a small number of circuit elements and a small component mounting area.

  The Peltier drive circuit of the present invention is characterized in that a common mode filter is inserted between the PWM signal smoothing filter and the Peltier element.

  In this Peltier drive circuit control method, the PWM controller outputs a control signal according to the input signal input, and the drive circuit outputs a PWM signal having a different pulse width according to the control signal from the PWM controller, and a heat / cool signal. The smoothing filter and the common mode filter connected in series remove the AC component and common mode noise of the PWM signal and the heat / cool signal from the drive circuit, and the difference voltage between the PWM signal and the heat / cool signal. Is supplied as a drive voltage for the Peltier element.

  The noise filter circuit of the present invention is characterized in that a PWM signal smoothing filter and a common mode filter are connected in series.

  According to the present invention, a Peltier drive circuit capable of reducing common mode noise is obtained by inserting a common mode filter between the PWM signal smoothing filter and the Peltier element.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a Peltier drive circuit of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the Peltier drive circuit of the present invention.

  A Peltier drive circuit 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a PWM controller 11 that controls generation of a PWM signal according to an input signal 16, a drive circuit 12 that drives a load (Peltier element 14) according to an output signal of the PWM controller, and a PWM. It comprises a PWM signal smoothing filter circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as a filter circuit) 13 that generates a DC signal from a waveform, a Peltier element 14, and a common mode filter 15. The filter circuit 13 and the common mode filter circuit 15 are collectively referred to as a noise filter circuit 19.

  The PWM controller 11 outputs a control signal in accordance with the input signal 16 that is input, and controls the operation of the transistors Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 of the drive circuit 12. The drive circuit 12 outputs a PWM signal 17 and an H / C signal 18 for driving a load (Peltier element 14) according to a control signal from the PWM controller 11. The PWM signal 17 and the H / C signal 18 output from the drive circuit 12 are connected to the two electrodes of the Peltier element 14 via the filter circuit 13 and the common mode filter circuit 15. The Peltier element 14 is controlled by a differential voltage between the PWM signal 17 and the H / C signal 18 input to the two electrodes, and performs heating or cooling operation.

  Here, the filter circuit 13 and the common mode filter circuit 15 each have two input / output terminals. The filter circuit 13 includes an inductance L1 and a capacitor C1, and the PWM signal 17 is input to one terminal of the inductance L1. The PWM signal 18 is cut into an AC component and becomes a DC signal, and is output to the common mode filter circuit 15 from a node between the other terminal of the inductance L1 and one terminal of the capacitor C1. One input / output terminal of the filter circuit 13 is connected to the other terminal of the capacitor C1 and inputs / outputs the H / C signal 18. The common mode filter circuit 15 is, for example, a choke coil. The PWM signal 17 and the H / C signal 18 are input to the respective terminals, the common mode noise is removed, and the Peltier element 14 is output. As shown in FIG. 1, the filter circuit 13 and the common mode filter circuit 18 constituting the noise filter circuit 19 are connected in series in a ladder shape.

  The PWM signal 17 and the H / C signal 18 output from the drive circuit 12 are supplied to both terminals of the Peltier element 14 via the filter circuit 13 and the common mode filter circuit 15 connected in series. The Peltier element 14 operates using a difference voltage between the PWM signal 17 and the H / C signal 18 supplied to both terminals as a driving voltage. The Peltier element 14 is provided so as to be in close contact with a device such as a laser diode, and adjusts the temperature of the device to be constant by heating or cooling the device according to the polarity of the driving voltage.

  The operation of the Peltier drive circuit 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows (a) input signal voltage vs. Peltier current, (b) input signal voltage vs. PWM signal, (c) input signal voltage vs. H / C signal, and (d) input signal voltage vs. PWM signal and H / C. The relationship between the PWM signal waveform and time corresponding to the differential voltage of the signal and (e) the input signal voltages (1) to (8) is shown.

  The Peltier current shown in FIG. 2A becomes smaller as the voltage of the input signal 16 becomes larger. When the voltage of the input signal 16 is the center value, the Peltier current is inverted, and the Peltier current in the reverse direction becomes larger. When the voltage of the input signal 16 is the center value, the polarity of the voltage and current to the Peltier element is switched, and the Peltier current becomes zero. The voltage of the input signal 16 changes according to the temperature of the device, for example. In the description of the present invention, the case where the voltage of the input signal 16 is small will be described as the device operating at high temperature, the Peltier element cooling operation, and the case where the input signal voltage is large, the device operating at low temperature and the Peltier element heating operation. However, the Peltier element can be cooled and heated depending on the polarity of the supplied drive voltage, and these are not particularly limited.

  The PWM signal 17 shown in FIG. 2B has a constant voltage value and a pulse width that changes according to the voltage of the input signal 16. When the voltage of the input signal 16 is small, the pulse width of the PWM signal 17 is wide ((1) in FIG. 2B), and the pulse width of the PWM signal 17 is narrowed as the voltage of the input signal 16 increases. ((2) and (3) in FIG. 2B). When the voltage of the input signal 16 is in the vicinity of the center value, the pulse width of the PWM signal 17 is minimized ((4) in FIG. 2B), and when the voltage exceeds the center value, the pulse width is conversely maximized (FIG. 2B). (5)). Further, as the voltage of the input signal 16 increases, the pulse width gradually decreases ((6), (7), (8) in FIG. 2B). The pulse waveforms of the PWM signals with respect to the voltages of these input signals are collectively shown in FIG. In this way, the PWM signals (1) to (8) having a pulse waveform are repeatedly generated corresponding to the voltage of the input signal.

  The H / C signal 18 shown in FIG. 2 (c) switches at the center value of the input signal 16, and when the voltage of the input signal 16 is smaller than the center value, the H / C signal 18 becomes the minimum voltage. Become. The PWM signal 17 and the H / C signal 18 are respectively supplied to both terminals of the Peltier element 14, and the differential voltage between the PWM signal 17 and the H / C signal 18 is applied to the Peltier element 14. The average of the difference voltage between the PWM signal 17 and the H / C signal 18 shown in FIG. 2D increases in proportion to the difference from the center value of the input signal 16. The differential voltage supplied to the Peltier element 14 becomes a positive voltage when the input signal 16 is smaller than the center value, and conversely becomes a negative voltage when the input signal 16 is larger than the center value. The pulse width of the differential voltage supplied to the Peltier element 14 becomes wider as it deviates from the center value of the input signal 16, indicating that the cooling or heating capability of the Peltier element 14 is increased.

  The PWM signal 17 and the H / C signal 18 pass through the filter circuit 13 and the common mode filter 15, and the AC component and common mode noise are cut and added to the Peltier element 14 as a DC signal. When the input signal 16 is smaller than the center value, a positive current flows. Conversely, when the input signal 16 is smaller than the center value, a reverse current flows. The polarity of the Peltier current is switched around the center value of the input signal 16. For this reason, the Peltier element can perform a cooling operation or a heating operation in accordance with the input signal 16 to adjust the temperature of the device to be constant.

  When the polarity of the Peltier current is switched when the voltage of the input signal 16 is near the center value, the Peltier current hardly flows, but the voltages of the PWM signal 17 and the H / C signal 18 fluctuate greatly. That is, it fluctuates in the common mode and common mode noise is generated. At this time, since the circuit between the filter circuit 13 and the Peltier element 14 is not connected to the + power source and the ground in the circuit diagram, it can be regarded as a transmission line with almost no load from the ground, and fluctuations may be radiated. is there. Therefore, by using the common mode filter 15, it is possible to remove in-phase components and suppress the generation of radiation noise. An example of the common mode filter 15 is a common mode choke.

  In the Peltier drive circuit shown in FIG. 1, a common mode filter 15 is inserted between the drive circuit 12 and the Peltier element 14 together with the filter circuit 13. The common mode filter 15 has a good balance, and compared with the inductor L2 and the capacitor C2 shown in FIG. Can do. Since the common mode filter 15 operates as a filter only for common mode voltage fluctuations, the presence or absence of the common mode filter 15 does not affect the normal operation. Further, there is an advantage that the mounting area can be reduced as compared with the configuration of FIG. 3 because the components need only be considered in the derating under the use condition after PWM smoothing and the capacitor C2 is unnecessary.

  In the present invention, a Peltier drive circuit is obtained in which a common mode filter is inserted between the PWM signal smoothing filter and the Peltier element. The Peltier driving circuit can further include a PWM controller that generates a control signal according to an input signal, and a drive circuit that outputs a PWM signal and a heat / cool signal to the PWM signal smoothing filter according to the control signal from the PWM controller. . The PWM signal smoothing filter and the common mode filter can supply the input PWM signal and the DC component from which the AC component and noise of the heat / cool signal are removed as the drive voltage of the Peltier element.

  Further, in the Peltier drive circuit, the PWM signal has a pulse width corresponding to the input signal, and the heat / cool signal outputs a high level or a low level according to the magnitude of the center value of the input signal. A difference voltage between the PWM signal and the heat / cool signal is supplied as a drive voltage for the Peltier element. Further, the common mode filter can be constituted by a common mode choke.

  In the present invention, the PWM controller outputs a control signal in accordance with the input signal, and the drive circuit outputs a PWM signal having a different pulse width and a heat / cool signal in accordance with the control signal from the PWM controller, and is connected in series. The PWM signal smoothing filter and common mode filter remove the AC component and common mode noise of the PWM signal and heat / cool signal from the drive circuit, and the difference voltage between the PWM signal and heat / cool signal is the drive voltage of the Peltier device. As a control method of the Peltier drive circuit supplied as.

  In the present invention, a noise filter circuit in which a PWM signal smoothing filter and a common mode filter are connected in series can be obtained, and the common mode filter can be constituted by a common mode choke.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above exemplary embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram of the Peltier drive circuit in the present invention. It is a wave form diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the Peltier drive circuit in this invention. It is a block diagram of the Peltier drive circuit in nonpatent literature 1. It is a block diagram of the Peltier drive circuit in nonpatent literature 2.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20, 30 Peltier drive circuit 11, 21, 31 PWM controller
12, 22, 32 Drive circuit 13, 23, 33 Filter circuit
14, 24, 34 Peltier element 15 Common mode filter 16, 26, 36 Input signal 17, 37 PWM signal 18, 38 H / C signal 27 PWM + signal 28 PWM- signal

Claims (7)

  A Peltier drive circuit, wherein a common mode filter is inserted between a PWM signal smoothing filter and a Peltier element.   A PWM controller that generates a control signal according to an input signal; and a drive circuit that outputs a PWM signal and a heat / cool signal to the PWM signal smoothing filter according to the control signal from the PWM controller, and the PWM signal smoothing filter 2. The common mode filter according to claim 1, wherein the input PWM signal and a DC signal from which an AC component and noise of the heat / cool signal are removed are supplied as a driving voltage of the Peltier element. Peltier drive circuit.   The PWM signal has a pulse width corresponding to the input signal, and the heat / cool signal is output as a high level or a low level according to the magnitude of the center value of the input signal, and the PWM signal and the heat 3. The Peltier driving circuit according to claim 2, wherein a differential voltage of a cool signal is supplied as a driving voltage for the Peltier element.   The peltier drive circuit according to claim 1, wherein the common mode filter is a common mode choke.   The PWM controller outputs a control signal in accordance with the input signal, and the drive circuit outputs a PWM signal having a different pulse width and a heat / cool signal in accordance with the control signal from the PWM controller. The common mode filter removes the AC component of the PWM signal and heat / cool signal from the drive circuit and common mode noise, and supplies the voltage difference between the PWM signal and the heat / cool signal as the drive voltage of the Peltier element. A control method for a Peltier drive circuit.   A noise filter circuit comprising a PWM signal smoothing filter and a common mode filter connected in series.   The noise filter circuit according to claim 6, wherein the common mode filter is a common mode choke.

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