DUT Cooling Control Using Internal Temperature Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling mechanisms for electronic devices during testing lack effective representation of actual thermal conditions and flexibility in cooling control algorithms, making them inadequate for volume production and diverse device types.
Innovation Solution
The use of internal temperature data from internal sensors to better represent thermal conditions, combined with the option to employ either a predetermined or custom cooling control algorithm, allows for more accurate and flexible cooling control, suitable for various devices such as network cards, graphics cards, and SSDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external temperature data is used for cooling control, then the cooling mechanism can be implemented, but the representation of actual thermal conditions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by selectively utilizing internal temperature data from the DUT when available, otherwise falling back to external temperature data. This mediator strategy resolves the contradiction by achieving accurate thermal representation without requiring all systems to have complex internal sensing, as the system adapts based on data availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The DUT provides its own internal temperature data through built-in temperature sensors, enabling self-service thermal monitoring. This eliminates the need for external temperature sensing infrastructure and achieves precise thermal condition representation without adding complexity to the testing apparatus.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a predetermined cooling control algorithm is used, then the testing process is simplified, but flexibility for custom cooling requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between predetermined and custom cooling control algorithms based on testing requirements. The testing apparatus can adapt its control strategy in real-time, selecting the appropriate algorithm type without requiring permanent complex infrastructure, thus achieving flexibility without proportional complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows changing the parameter of algorithm type (predetermined vs. custom) based on testing needs. By making this parameter adjustable, the system achieves versatility in cooling control strategies without permanently committing to a complex custom implementation, as the complexity is only activated when needed.
3Measurement precision
If internal temperature data from DUT is used, then cooling control accuracy is improved, but proprietary information may be exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary thermal data (temperature values) from the DUT's internal sensors while leaving proprietary information within the DUT. By taking out only the non-sensitive temperature measurements needed for cooling control, the system achieves accurate thermal monitoring without exposing proprietary design information, algorithms, or other confidential data.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides faster and more accurate cooling responses by utilizing internal temperature data and allows for customized cooling solutions, enhancing testing efficiency and accuracy while maintaining proprietary information secrecy.
Implementation Method 1
heat is generated and emitted to the surrounding external environment by the electronic devices
Implementation Method 2
Cooling mechanisms are used to dissipate the heat and to cool the electronic devices
Data Source
AI summary
New cooling control techniques suitable for use in the testing of devices are disclosed. The new cooling control techniques are an improvement over existing cooling control techniques because the new cooling control techniques utilize inputs that are more representative of actual thermal conditions experienced by a DUT (device under test) and/or are more representative of various other parameters, such as DUT power consumption/dissipation, during testing. Also, the new cooling control techniques offer flexibility with respect to the cooling control algorithm to employ for the DUT during testing.