A recently issued patent describes a process by which the critical IC temperature (junction temperature, Tj) can be determined in an end-user environment. A critical junction temperature is one that, should the IC temperature go beyond it, will continue to increase in a thermal runaway scenario. In other words, the environment in which the IC is operating can’t get the … [Read more...]

  Develop 3D is a UK based Magazine and Website focussing on the technologies involved in product design. The latest copy had a fascinating article on Dell’s Precision Workstation labs. This blog is being written on a Precision M4500 which I’ve lugged around countless airports and dumped, wearily, on numerous hotel beds. The fact that it works as well now as when I … [Read more...]

FloTHERM's strength has always its been its robustness, founded on a simplicity of technology that we've tried not to compromise over its 25 year life. This is no truer than in its 3D CAD drawing interface. More Lego than Sculpting in its capabilities, it's always been quick and easy to mock up a conceptual cooling architecture for a proposed design. FloTHERM V10 provides a … [Read more...]

Temperature has always been, and will continue to be, a good enough leading indicator of product reliability. As a parameter it is easy to specify a maximum rating value and relatively easy to measure. However it is not temperature itself that directly causes product failure, more often than not it is some kind of mechanical fracture or deformation that itself is fuelled by … [Read more...]