Semiconductor Liquid Cooling
Semiconductors are key components used in the manufacture of transistors, diodes and integrated circuits. As demand for high-power computing has increased, so has demand for densely packaged semiconductor devices. While in use, semiconductors generate a high level of thermal energy, and smaller packages make that energy more difficult to regulate.
When a semiconductor device or chip overheats, its functionality can slow down or fail completely, leading to data loss and system crashes. Traditionally, engineers have used air cooling systems to keep the temperature of electronic components under control. However, air cooling can no longer keep up with the heat generated by increasingly powerful and compact systems. Semiconductor liquid cooling systems offer an effective alternative for temperature control. Microchannel cold plates for semiconductors circulate coolant fluids with high thermal conductivity evenly over the entire heated surface of the chip.
At Mikros Technologies, we design and manufacture microchannel cold plates for semiconductor cooling applications.
Semiconductor Temperature Control
Semiconductor chips can be either lidded or unlidded. In a lidded chip, a thermal
interface material sits between the die and a copper lid mounted to the back of
the die. In an unlidded chip, no lid or thermal interface material is present between
the die and the heat sink. Unlidded packages tend to produce lower junction
temperatures, with junction temperature being the maximum operating temperature
of a semiconductor, but both chip styles have their advantages.
We offer semiconductor cooling technologies that can accommodate the thermal management of
both lidded and unlidded chips.
Multi-Chip Packaging (MCP)
Multi-chip modules integrate multiple chips into a single package. With more chips
in a concentrated area, you have more heat to dissipate. Our microchannel cold plates
can dissipate over 1kW/cm2 while keeping surface temperature and pressure drop to a minimum.
Chiplets
To continue boosting computer performance despite the slowing pace of Moore’s Law,
semiconductor device manufacturers have begun making processors using chiplets,
small dies that come together to form larger chips. Our liquid cooling systems cool chiplets
effectively by tailoring the highest cooling zones to the hottest dies.
Semiconductor Thermal Challenges
As semiconductor devices become smaller and more densely packed, new thermal challenges arise, including larger power spikes in hot spots below the surface layer. These issues demand intelligent cooling solutions.
Heat Flux Regulation
Mikros cold plates use tailored cooling to direct more coolant to areas in need of greater heat dissipation. The low thermal resistance of microchannels provides very high heat transfer coefficients for better heat flux regulation.
Semiconductor Module Testing
At Mikros Technologies, we design and produce microchannel cold plates and semiconductor cooling systems with fast thermal transients for unparalleled temperature regulation during rigorous semiconductor testing profiles.
Functional Testing
Also known as IC validation, functional testing determines whether an individual semiconductor chip works as intended in a test socket.
System-Level Testing
A system-level test evaluates how well a chip functions within a complete system by emulating the final user environment on a board.
Burn-In
Burn-in involves placing the semiconductor into extreme operating conditions, including high temperatures, and testing how well it performs.
This process helps detect early failures.
Thermal Head Retrofitting
Mikros can design and produce test heads for existing semiconductor test equipment to save companies on capital costs as higher power chips are released.
Thermal Transients
The thermal capacity of Mikros semiconductor cooling plates is very low, which allows for millisecond-level thermal response times as test profiles are applied.
High Power Chip Testing
The low thermal resistance of Mikros cold plates allow for higher power tests to be run on higher power chips, speeding the time to market for new semiconductor products.
Benefits of Microchannel Cold Plates for Semiconductor Liquid Cooling
To accommodate the needs of our clients in the semiconductor industry, we often configure our microchannel cold plates
into a variety of complex topologies. Our cold plates increase system reliability by lowering junction temperature
and offer exceptionally low pressure drop, surface temperature rise, low thermal gradients and fast transients.
To learn more about the benefits of our semiconductor module liquid cooling reach out to us today.
In 2022, Mikros was selected by CIO review as one of the 20 most promising semiconductor industry solutions providers.