Thermal Resistance Data: JEDEC Standards, Thermal Resistance Measurement Environments, and Circuit Boards

From this article, we explain thermal resistance data. We begin with standards and measurements relating to thermal resistance.

JEDEC Standards

JEDEC (the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) is an industry organization that develops standards in the field of semiconductor components. There are numerous standards that must necessarily be dealt with not only by semiconductor manufacturers, but by others in the field of electronics as well. That measurement methods and conditions must conform to industry standards, regardless of heat issues, is a fundamental principle. It goes without saying that this is because comparisons and pass/fail judgments would not be possible if methods and conditions were not unified.

Among the JEDEC standards, the following are the main two standards relating to heat.

　JESD51 series：Includes nearly all standards relating to heat in packages for ICs and other 　 　 　　 　　　　components
　JESD15 series：Standardizes thermal resistance models used in simulations

The following describes representative heat-related standards in the JESD51 series.

Thermal Resistance Measurement Environments

Environments for measurement of thermal resistance are stipulated in JESD51-2A. The following is an example of a thermal resistance measurement environment conforming to the JESD51-2A standard.

By placing the object for measurement within an acrylic chamber, securing a still-air state, the effect of airflow in the vicinity is eliminated, and the object for measurement is in a natural cooling state. By always setting the object for measurement in the same position, highly reproducible measurements are ensured.

Thermal Resistance Measurement Boards

There are also standards relating to the boards used to measure thermal resistance. Boards generally known as “JEDEC boards” are standardized by JESD51-3/5/7. An example is shown below.

Thermal resistance data is in essence acquired in conformance with these standard specifications. Ordinarily the standard specifications are also explicitly stated.