Introduction to Thermal Design of Electronic Equipment

Abstract

Electronic devices produce heat as a byproduct of normal operation. Besides the damage that excess heat can cause, it also increases the movement of free electrons in a semiconductor, which can cause an increase in signal noise. The primary focus of this book is to examine various ways to reduce the temperature of a semiconductor, or group of semiconductors. If we do not allow the heat to dissipate, the device junction temperature will exceed the maximum safe operating temperature specified by the manufacturer. When a device exceeds the specified temperature, semiconductor performance, life, and reliability are tremendously reduced, as shown in Figure 1.1. Researchers estimate that every 10°C increase in junction temperature reduces the semiconductor life by 50%. The basic objective, then, is to hold the junction temperature below the maximum temperature specified by the semiconductor manufacturer.