Imagine exploring an arctic region in a video game or movie where you imagine it would be extremely cold. Currently, that’s all we can do: imagine the cold. But with a thermoelectric device embedded controller, you can actually feel it. It would be the same scenario if our media brought us to a desert or stood us up on a volcano. Our controller would heat up to simulate the heat that we would expect to experience. With the capability of alternating hot and cold in a small space on a controller, media consumers could even feel the pain of the protagonist of the story they’re immersed in.

Thermals that accompany a thermoelectric device embedded controller

Let’s take a look at the thermal situation that a thermoelectric device embedded controller has. In most thermal management applications, we see the need of maintaining a specific temperature differential for thermoelectric coolers. This is a unique application in which that temperature differential is dynamic and can vary widely across the TED array.

The thermoelectric device embedded controller itself

The back side of each of these devices should probably be kept at a consistent temperature, so that the voltage for each temperature output is predictable. This could either be done by using a heat spreader, like a copper spreader. The thermoelectric devices should also be insulated from the interior of the controller, in case there is on-board electronics that may suffer reliability issues if exposed to temperature fluctuations induced by these devices.

Controller power supply

Secondary to the TEDs themselves is the power source for these devices. Thermoelectric devices are inefficient, so a lot of energy needs to go into making a small temperature differential. Multiply this inefficiency across the whole array and these thermoelectric device embedded controllers become huge power hogs. It will either need a large power supply or a hefty battery, both of which may need their own thermal solution to keep them safe and reliable.

Pushing the boundaries of immersive gameplay

Despite the challenges that come with controllers that can output a thermal experience, it’s exciting to see the gaming industry pushing existing technologies into new applications. We’re certainly looking forward to seeing the first commercially available thermoelectric device embedded controller.