Peltier coolers provide thermal stability in automotive headlights

Digital light processing technology is now employed in many smart automotive headlight systems to provide sharper and brighter light ahead of a vehicle. These automotive headlight systems work in temperature environments that can reach 110C. However, the maximum operating temperature of a DLP is only 70C. Moving beyond the temperature limits of a DLP jeopardies non-operation or failure. Employing a Laird Thermal Solutions HiTemp ET Series thermoelectric cooler module preserves the sensitive DLP electronics and assures optimum performance.

The series is a Peltier cooler that gives active spot cooling. The series can reduce the control temperature by as much as 40C below ambient subject to active heat load. The Peltier cooler provides reliable solid-state construction, long-life operation, and a compact form factor that fits into tight space constraints regularly found in automotive headlights. Also, Peltier coolers do not outgas, excluding the coating build-up on lens surfaces that can occur over time.

"The amount of electronic content going into vehicles is astonishing. This is creating all kinds of thermal challenges that are not seen with consumer-grade electronics because they typically operate in room temperature environments," said Andrew Dereka, product director at Laird Thermal Systems. "The integration of smart headlight technologies in the automotive sector is a great example of how an active spot cooling solution using a HiTemp ET Series can solve complex thermal problems and keep sensitive electronics cool."

The series is intended to function in temperatures between 80C and 150C. This product series is offered in a wide range of models, to meet the broad number of applications including various heat-pumping requirements, geometric form factors, and input power available to cover the wide range of DLP design requirements.