Interface of a digital temparature microcontroller with an analog incubator

Abstract

A plug-and-play type digital temperature control system was developed and tested. The software designed for the controller implemented 100% duty cycle for temperature errors of 2°C or more and a 25% duty cycle for temperature errors of 1°C. This produced an initial rate of change of temperature of 0.170°C s⁻¹ at a 100% duty cycle and 0.0040°C s⁻¹ at a 25% duty cycle. The temperature rates were invariant for both positive and negative temperature gradients. The system was also able to make the incubator reach the final steady state temperature in less than 70 s.