Method and apparatus for predicting steady state temperature of solid state devices

• US 8,047,712 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Sturner, William P., Shih, Ming T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Verbitsky; Gail
• Application Number:
  US11/881,306
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 374 1- 2, 374 10- 12, 374/4, 374/5, 374 29- 39, 374 43- 45, 374/57, 374/100, 374/112, 374/120, 374/121, 374/135, 374/137, 374/141, 374/144, 374/163, 374/170, 374/179, 374/18, 374/3, 374/152, 374/115, 374/134, 374/124, 702/99, 702130-136, 702/139, 703/2, 716/5, 716/9, 716/4
• US Class Current: 374/152
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/42 Circuits effecting compensation of thermal inertia; Circuits for predicting the stationary value of a temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/425 Thermal management of integrated systems

Abstract

The disclosure generally relates to method and apparatus for predicting the steady state temperature of solid state devices, preferably under transient conditions. An apparatus according to one embodiment of the disclosure includes a thermocouple for detecting temperature of the solid state system; a processor in communication with the thermocouple and programmed with instructions to: construct an initial curve for the solid state system, the initial curve having a shape; obtain a plurality of theoretical temperature curves for the solid state system; select one of the plurality of theoretical temperature curves having a shape closest to the shape of the initial curve; and superimposing the selected theoretical temperature curve on the initial curve to predict the steady state temperature.

Claims

1. An apparatus for predicting a steady state temperature of a solid state electronic device, comprising:

a thermocouple for detecting temperature of the solid state electronic device;

a processor in communication with the thermocouple and programmed with instructions for performing an algorithm, the instructions to;

construct an initial curve for the solid state electronic device by detecting a starting temperature for the solid state electronic device and at least three operating temperatures, the initial curve having a shape;

obtain a plurality of theoretical temperature curves for the solid state electronic device;

select one of the plurality of theoretical temperature curves having a shape closest to the shape of the initial curve; and

superimpose the selected theoretical temperature curve on the initial curve to predict the steady state temperature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing the plurality of theoretical temperature curves.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the initial curve defines a thermodynamic response of the solid state electronic device to a transient operating condition.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape of the initial curve includes a curved line portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the initial curve includes a straight line portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the theoretical temperature curves includes a curved line portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the theoretical temperature curves defines a thermodynamic response of the solid state electronic device to a different operating condition.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of theoretical temperature curves defines a thermodynamic response of the solid state electronic device to a steady state operating condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selected theoretical temperature comprises an asymptote.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the asymptote of the selected theoretical temperature curve defines the steady state temperature of the solid state electronic device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state electronic device is one of a circuit board or an electronic module.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instruction to superimpose the selected theoretical temperature curve on the initial curve further comprises curve fitting the selected theoretical temperature curve on the initial curve.

13. A method for predicting a steady state temperature of a solid state electronic device, the method comprising:

constructing an initial curve for the solid state electronic device by detecting a starting temperature for the solid state electronic device and at least three operating temperatures, the initial curve having a shape;

obtaining a plurality of theoretical temperature curves;

selecting one of the plurality of theoretical temperature curves having a shape closest to the shape of initial curve of the solid state electronic device; and

superimposing the selected theoretical temperature curve on the initial curve to predict the steady state temperature.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the initial curve defines a thermodynamic response of the solid state electronic device to a transient operating condition.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the shape of the initial curve includes a curved line portion.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the initial curve includes a straight line portion.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the theoretical temperature curves includes a curved line portion.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the theoretical temperature curves defines a thermodynamic response of the solid state electronic device to a different operating condition.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of theoretical temperature curves defines a thermodynamic response of the solid state electronic device to a steady state operating condition.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the selected theoretical temperature comprises an asymptote.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the asymptote of the selected theoretical temperature curve defines the steady state temperature of the solid state electronic device.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the solid state electronic device is one of a circuit board or an electronic module.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of superimposing the selected theoretical temperature curve on the initial curve further comprises curve fitting the selected theoretical temperature curve on the initial curve.