Heat generation in integrated circuits

{{short description|Tendency of electrical circuits to produce excess heat while operating}}

The heat dissipation in integrated circuits problem has gained an increasing interest in recent years due to the miniaturization of semiconductor devices. The temperature increase becomes relevant for cases of relatively small-cross-sections wires, because such temperature increase may affect the normal behavior of semiconductor devices.

Joule heating

Joule heating is a predominant heat mechanism for heat generation in integrated circuitsT. Bechtold, E. V. Rudnyi and J. G Korvink, "Dynamic electro-thermal simulation of microsystems—a review," Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. vol. 15, pp. R17–R31, 2005 and is an undesired effect.

Propagation

The governing equation of the physics of the problem to be analyzed is the heat diffusion equation. It relates the flux of heat in space, its variation in time and the generation of power.

: $\nabla\left(\kappa\nabla T\right)+g=\rho C\frac{\partial T}{\partial t}$

Where $\kappa$ is the thermal conductivity, $\rho$ is the density of the medium, $C$ is the specific heat

: $k=\frac{\kappa}{\rho C} \,$

the thermal diffusivity and $g$ is the rate of heat generation per unit volume. Heat diffuses from the source following equation ([eq:diffusion]) and solution in a homogeneous medium of ([eq:diffusion]) has a Gaussian distribution.

Heat generation in integrated circuits

Joule heating

Propagation

See also

References

Further reading