Thermoelectric modules protect CMOS sensors in high-temp imaging apps

By Carolyn Mathas, contributing writer

Addressing the thermal noise that causes CMOS sensors, lasers, and other sensitive devices to lose image resolution as temperatures rise, Laird Thermal Systems expanded its Peltier product family with the HiTemp ET Series of thermoelectric modules (TEMs). These modules are designed using Laird’s enhanced TEM construction to prevent performance degradation and copper diffusion, common in standard TEMs used at high temperatures.

The new modules are used in a variety of applications, such as protecting CMOS sensors in autonomous systems, LiDAR, optical transceivers, and DLPs used in 3D machine vision, advanced lighting, and projection. In all of these applications, whether indoors or outside, high temperatures are common and often exceed maximum operating temperature conditions.

The thermoelectric modules are suited for use in automotive, machine vision and learning, and high-end scientific cameras and for higher-current and larger heat-pumping applications, in which they provide precise temperature control accuracy achieving ±0.01°C. They offer active cooling in temperatures ranging from 80°C to 150°C.

Preventing image quality from deteriorating, high temperature Peltier coolers reduce sensor temperature and maintain acceptable noise levels.

The HiTemp ET Series delivers spot cooling so that CMOS sensors can maintain optimum performance that will not degrade, even in extreme heat. The new family offers designers flexibility, with 53 models featuring a variety of heat pump capacities, form factors, and input voltages.

The series maintains a high coefficient of performance, enabling maximum heat removal in the air. The environmentally friendly modules provide a cooling capacity of more than 300 W, are housed in a compact form factor, eliminate sound and vibration, and are RoHS-compliant.