Multijunction Power Device Thermal Control via Junction Grouping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal control systems for electronic power devices with multiple junctions often inaccurately detect temperatures due to reciprocal thermal impedances, leading to premature shutdowns, especially in high current density applications, and fail to allow partial operation during critical events affecting only a portion of the device.
Innovation Solution
A thermal control process that groups junctions and associates thermal detectors with each group, allowing for selective deactivation of critical junctions while maintaining others active, using digitized temperature signals processed by a control logic module to identify and manage thermal events, enabling partial device operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature sensors are arranged at the hottest points of the semiconductor die to detect critical temperatures, then thermal protection is enabled, but reciprocal thermal impedances between adjacent channels generate measurement errors causing premature shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The semiconductor die is divided into multiple independent channels, each with its own temperature sensor and control circuitry. This segmentation isolates the thermal measurement of each channel, preventing reciprocal thermal impedances from adjacent channels from affecting the accuracy of temperature detection. Each channel operates independently with its own thermal protection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
A control logic module acts as an intermediary between the temperature sensors and the power device operation. It processes temperature signals from multiple sensors, applies logical operations (such as OR operator) to determine when shutdown is necessary, and controls the power device accordingly. This intermediary prevents premature shutdowns by making intelligent decisions based on aggregated temperature data rather than reacting to individual sensor readings in isolation.
2Reliability
If the device shuts down automatically when a critical temperature is detected by sensors, then thermal protection is ensured, but the power device cannot operate partially when only a portion is affected by critical events
Solution Approach 1:
The power device is segmented into multiple independent channels, each capable of independent control. When a critical temperature event occurs in one channel, only that specific channel is deactivated while other channels continue to operate normally. This selective deactivation maintains overall device productivity while ensuring thermal protection for the affected channel.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of completely shutting down the entire power device when a thermal event occurs, the control logic applies partial action by deactivating only the specific channel or channels experiencing critical temperatures. This allows the majority of the device to continue operating at full capacity, maximizing productivity while maintaining necessary thermal protection.
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 accurately detects and manages thermal events, preventing unnecessary shutdowns and allowing for partial operation of electronic power devices with high current density, effectively handling critical thermal events in devices with multiple junctions.
Implementation Method 1
Each group is associated to a thermal detector (111-116) configured to generate corresponding group electric signals (VCL1-VCL6) representative of a detected temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal control process for an electronic power device including a multi junction integrated circuit may include defining a first and at least one second groups of junctions, with each group including one first and at least one second junctions, and associating a thermal detector with each group. A first group control may be executed which detects group electric signals representative of the temperature detected by the thermal detectors, processes the group electric signals with reference to a group critical thermal event, identifies a critical group when the corresponding group electric signal detects the critical group thermal event, and generates group deactivating signals suitable for selectively deactivating the first and the at least one second junctions of the identified critical group with respect to the remaining junctions of the integrated circuit.