US6203191B1 — Method of junction temperature determination and …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for monitoring the temperature of the heat producing portion of an electrical current carrying device comprising the steps, producing a first signal relating to the temperature at one point along a thermal dissipation path associated with said electrical current carrying device, producing a second signal relating to the heat flux between the heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, determining the thermal conductivity between said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, and combining said first and second signals with said thermal conductivity to produce a third signal relating to the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for monitoring the temperature of the heat producing portion of an electrical current carrying device comprising the steps, producing a first signal relating to the temperature at one point along a thermal dissipation path associated with said electrical current carrying device, producing a second signal relating to the heat flux between the heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, determining the thermal conductivity between said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, and combining said first and second signals with said thermal conductivity to produce a third signal relating to the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for monitoring the temperature of the heat producing portion of an electrical current carrying device with a plurality of thermal dissipation paths comprising the steps, producing a signal relating to the temperature at one point along each thermal dissipation path associated with said electrical current carrying device, determining the thermal conductivity between said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and each temperature measurement point, producing a signal relating to the total power dissipated by the electrical current carrying device as heat, and combining said signals relating to temperature, said thermal conductivities, and said power measurement to produce a signal relating to the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for monitoring the temperature of the heat producing portion of an electrical current carrying device with a plurality of thermal dissipation paths comprising the steps, producing a signal relating to the temperature at one point along each thermal dissipation path associated with said electrical current carrying device, determining the thermal conductivity between said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and each temperature measurement point, producing a signal relating to the total power dissipated by the electrical current carrying device as heat, and combining said signals relating to temperature, said thermal conductivities, and said power measurement to produce a signal relating to the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the electrical current carrying device is a semiconductor nand the heat producing portion of the electrical current carrying device is a semiconductor junction.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal is directly measured by a heat flux sensor which is thermally in series on the thermal dissipation path whereby the measured heat flux travels through the sensor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal is directly measured by a heat flux sensor which is thermally parallel to a thermal dissipation path whereby the majority of the measured heat flux does not travel through the sensor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the heat flux sensor is accomplished by measuring temperatures at a plurality of points along the direction of heat flux.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal is calculated by determining the sum of the heat flux along a plurality of thermal dissipation paths.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 80 words

The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the thermal conductivity is calculated by the steps, monitoring the power delivered to the electrical current carrying device over time, monitoring the temperature at a point along a thermal dissipation path over time, determining the specific heat and density of the materials between the temperature measurement point and the electrical current carrying device, and solving for the thermal conductivity, k, in the equation δT/δt=(k/ρc p )*(δ 2 T/δx 2 )+(δq/δt)/ρc p .

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 77 words

The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the thermal conductivity is calculated by the steps, monitoring the power delivered to the electrical current carrying device over time, monitoring the temperature at a point along a thermal dissipation path over time, determining the specific heat and density of the materials between the temperature measurement point, and the electrical current carrying device, solving for the thermal conductivity, k, by treating the problem as an Inverse Heat Conduction Problem.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the thermal conductivity of a thermal dissipation path containing a plurality of elements is determined by weighted averaging of the known thermal conductivities of the constituents of the thermal dissipation path.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 1 or 2 and including the step of utilizing the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device to regulate the temperature of the electrical current carrying device.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 1 or 2 and including the step of utilizing the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device as an alert to the temperature status of the electrical current carrying device.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 11 wherein the regulation of the electrical current carrying device is achieved by altering the power delivered to the electrical current carrying device.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 11 wherein the regulation of the electrical current carrying device is achieved by altering the efficiency of the electrical current carrying device.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 11 wherein the regulation of the electrical current carrying device is achieved by altering the efficiency of the thermal dissipation means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 11 wherein the regulation of the electrical current carrying device is achieved by controlling a distinct temperature controlling unit that is thermally connected to the electrical current carrying device.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 150 words

An apparatus for monitoring the temperature of the heat producing portion of an electrical current carrying device comprising, means for establishing a temperature at one point along a thermal dissipation path associated with said electrical current carrying device, means for determining the heat flux between the heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, means for determining the thermal conductivity between said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, and means for calculating the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device based upon said temperature on the thermal dissipation path, said heat flux, and said thermal conductivity, wherein said heat flux is determined by measuring any two values chosen from the group consisting of the current flowing through the device, the electrical impedance of the device, and the voltage across the device.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 150 words

An apparatus for monitoring the temperature of the heat producing portion of an electrical current carrying device comprising, means for establishing a temperature at one point along a thermal dissipation path associated with said electrical current carrying device, means for determining the heat flux between the heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, means for determining the thermal conductivity between said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, and means for calculating the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device based upon said temperature on the thermal dissipation path, said heat flux, and said thermal conductivity, wherein said heat flux is determined by measuring any two values chosen from the group consisting of the current flowing through the device, the electrical impedance of the device, and the voltage across the device.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 167 words

An apparatus for monitoring the temperature of the heat producing portion of an electrical current carrying device comprising, means for establishing a temperature at one point along a thermal dissipation path associated with said electrical current carrying device, means for determining the heat flux between the heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, means for determining the thermal conductivity between said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, and means for calculating the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device based upon said temperature on the thermal dissipation path, said heat flux, and said thermal conductivity, wherein the heat flux is measured utilizing a heat flow sensor comprising a first integrating temperature sensing means, a second integrating temperature sensing means that is offset by a known distance from the first in the direction of heat flow, and a means to mount such sensor to a thermal dissipation path.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 167 words

An apparatus for monitoring the temperature of the heat producing portion of an electrical current carrying device comprising, means for establishing a temperature at one point along a thermal dissipation path associated with said electrical current carrying device, means for determining the heat flux between the heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, means for determining the thermal conductivity between said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and said temperature measurement point, and means for calculating the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device based upon said temperature on the thermal dissipation path, said heat flux, and said thermal conductivity, wherein the heat flux is measured utilizing a heat flow sensor comprising a first integrating temperature sensing means, a second integrating temperature sensing means that is offset by a known distance from the first in the direction of heat flow, and a means to mount such sensor to a thermal dissipation path.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 37 words

An apparatus according to claim 18 where the temperature sensing means are differential thermopiles that are mounted in close proximity to each other thereby creating a thermally serial sensor in which the heat flows through its thickness.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 32 words

An apparatus according to claim 18 where the temperature sensing means surround and are thermally parallel to the thermal dissipation path thereby creating a sensor in which there is minimal heat flow.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 39 words

An apparatus according to claim 18 where the temperature sensing means span a portion of the thermal dissipation path and are thermally parallel to the thermal dissipation path thereby creating a sensor in which there is minimal heat flow.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the heat flow sensor comprises a plurality of distinct heat flow sensors placed at a known distance to each other relative to the direction of heat flux.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 44 words

An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the heat flow sensor comprises a single device, and wherein the first and second temperature sensing means comprise a plurality of temperature sensing locations at known distances to each other relative to the direction of heat flux.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 113 words

An apparatus for monitoring the temperature of the heat producing portion of an electrical current carrying device containing a plurality of thermal dissipation paths comprising, means for establishing a temperature at one point along each thermal dissipation path associated with said electrical current carrying device, means for determining the thermal conductivity between said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and each temperature measurement point, means for determining the total power dissipated by the electrical current carrying device as heat, and means for calculating the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device based upon said thermal path temperature measurements, said thermal conductivities, and said power measurement.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 113 words

An apparatus for monitoring the temperature of the heat producing portion of an electrical current carrying device containing a plurality of thermal dissipation paths comprising, means for establishing a temperature at one point along each thermal dissipation path associated with said electrical current carrying device, means for determining the thermal conductivity between said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device and each temperature measurement point, means for determining the total power dissipated by the electrical current carrying device as heat, and means for calculating the temperature of said heat producing portion of said electrical current carrying device based upon said thermal path temperature measurements, said thermal conductivities, and said power measurement.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-03-19	2004-09-18	2005-03-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-03-19	2008-09-18	2009-03-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-03-19	2012-09-18	2013-03-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of junction temperature determination and control utilizing heat flow

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