Apparatus, method and system for thermal management of an electronic system having semiconductor devices
US6058012A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 27, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A thermal management controller to regulate the operating temperature of high speed, high circuit density semiconductor dice in an electronic product. The thermal management controller monitors the temperature of a heat sink in thermal contact with the high speed, high circuit density semiconductor dice and also monitors the operational status of one or more specified devices which may increase the heat load within the electronic product. As the temperature of the heat sink increases and/or as specified devices increase the heat load in the electronic product, the thermal management controller will start cooling fans and/or increases the speed of the cooling fans to increase heat removal from the electronic product by forced convection. As the temperature of the heat sink decreases and/or as specified devices cease contributing to the heat load in the electronic product, the thermal management controller will decrease the speed of the cooling fans and/or turn off the cooling fans to decrease heat removal from the electronic product. If the temperature of the heat sink rises above a predetermined temperature, the thermal management structure will reduce the clock speed of the semico…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.