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US6092926A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Thermal monitoring system for semiconductor devices

Assignee: Organization World Intellectual Property
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Filing: 1998-09-17
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Granted: 2000-07-25
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Expires: 2018-09-17
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Abstract

Abstract A method for monitoring the operating temperature of a semiconductor device. The method comprising the steps of: placing a thermal coupling material between the bottom of the semiconductor device and the top of a printed circuit board for inserting the device thereinto; inserting a sensor so to be at least partially covered by the thermal coupling material; and measuring the temperature from the sensor within a predetermined time interval. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is described to carry out the above process.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stephen Eugene Still
  • 👤 Ray Garcia
  • 👤 Kendall Anthony Honeycutt
  • 👤 James J. Tout, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 05:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K7/00; G01K7/42

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 101 words
A method to monitor the temperature of a device comprising the steps of: placing a thermal coupling material between the bottom of the device and the top of a circuit board for inserting the device thereinto; placing a first sensor into a location such that at least thermal contact with thermal coupling material is made; measuring the temperature from the sensor within a predetermined time interval; comparing the temperature measured with the sensor to a first correlation factor for the device; identifying the operating speed of the devices; and comparing the temperature measured for this speed with the first correlation factor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 101 words
A method to monitor the temperature of a device comprising the steps of: placing a thermal coupling material between the bottom of the device and the top of a circuit board for inserting the device thereinto; placing a first sensor into a location such that at least thermal contact with thermal coupling material is made; measuring the temperature from the sensor within a predetermined time interval; comparing the temperature measured with the sensor to a first correlation factor for the device; identifying the operating speed of the devices; and comparing the temperature measured for this speed with the first correlation factor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing the temperature includes identifying the packaging configuration of the device and comparing the temperature measured for this configuration with the first correlation factor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing the temperature includes notifying an application program whether the temperature measured by the first sensor is outside of a predetermined temperature range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: mounting a second sensor in the vicinity of the device; measuring the ambient air temperature surrounding the device; and comparing the temperature measured with the second sensor with the temperature measured with the first sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of: comparing the temperature measured with the second sensor with a correlation factor for the device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: notifying the application program whether the temperature measured with the second sensor is outside a predetermined range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: comparing the difference in temperature as measured by the first sensor and the temperature measured by the second sensor to a second correlation factor for the device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of: notifying the application if the difference in temperature is outside a predetermined range.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 117 words
A system to monitor the temperature of a device comprising: a circuit board for receiving a device; a thermal coupling material sandwiched between the bottom of the device and the top of the circuit board for inserting the device thereinto; a first sensor, whereby the first sensor is at least partially in thermal contact with the thermal coupling material; means for measuring a temperature indication from the first sensor within a time interval; a comparator for comparing the temperature measured with the first sensor to a first correlation factor for the device; means for identifying the operating speed of the device; and means for comparing the temperature measured for this operating speed with the first correlation factor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 117 words
A system to monitor the temperature of a device comprising: a circuit board for receiving a device; a thermal coupling material sandwiched between the bottom of the device and the top of the circuit board for inserting the device thereinto; a first sensor, whereby the first sensor is at least partially in thermal contact with the thermal coupling material; means for measuring a temperature indication from the first sensor within a time interval; a comparator for comparing the temperature measured with the first sensor to a first correlation factor for the device; means for identifying the operating speed of the device; and means for comparing the temperature measured for this operating speed with the first correlation factor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 33 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the comparator includes identifying the packaging configuration of the device and a means for comparing the temperature measured for this packaging configuration with the first correlation factor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the comparator includes a means for notifying an application program whether the temperature measured by the first sensor is outside of a predetermined temperature range.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 46 words
The system of claim 9, further comprising: a second sensor mounted in the vicinity of the device; means for measuring the ambient air temperature surrounding the device; and means for comparing the temperature measured with the second sensor with the temperature measured with the second sensor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 12, further comprising: means for comparing the temperature measured with the second sensor to a second correlation factor for the device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 13, further comprising: means for notifying the application if the temperature measured with the second sensor is outside a predetermined range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 36 words
The system of claim 13, further comprising: means for comparing the difference in temperature as measured by the first sensor and the temperature measured by the second sensor to a second correlation factor for the device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 15, further comprising: means for notifying the application if the difference in temperature is outside predetermined range.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4475145A Cited
US5206713A Cited
US5603570A Cited
US5483102A Cited
US5679266A Cited
US5931580A Cited
US5847929A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-07-25 2004-01-24 2004-07-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-07-25 2008-01-24 2008-07-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-07-25 2012-01-24 2012-07-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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