Introduction to

Liquid Crystal Thermography

By

Kaveh Azar, Ph.D.

Advanced Thermal Solutions, Inc.

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Overview

• Liquid Crystal Thermography in a Nutshell

• Define Terms
• Why Measure Temperature in Electronics Systems
• Options for Temperature Measurement
• Liquid Crystal Thermography— an In-depth Look

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Liquid Crystal Thermography
(LCT) in a Nutshell

Nutshell— LCT correlates the color response of a heat surface

treated with Thermochromic Liquid Crystal (TLC) to temperature.

What are Thermochromic Liquid Crystals-

Thermochromic Liquid Crystals (TLC) are materials that change
their reflected color as a function of temperature when
illuminated by white light. Hence, reflect visible light at a different
wavelengths.

Thermo- Temperature
Thermochromic
Chromic- Color

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Liquid Crystal Thermography
(LCT) in a Nutshell
Simplest Implementation— household temperature indicator
Process:
– A heated surface
– A liquid crystal with a known color-to-temperature response
Example
Fish-tank thermometers, Mood rings, Color sensitive coffee cup, etc.!

Advance Implementation—Research quality thermograph

– A heated surface
– Calibration facility for temperature/color response
– Image acquisition and software for image analysis
Example
thermVIEW™ system, a high resolution thermography system.

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Terms Defined
Electronics Packaging Hierarchy
Term Description Industry
System A box housing the electronic circuitry. It can be General
Enclosure made of plastic, metals and alloys, depending Computer, consumer electronics
Chassis upon its application. Computer and consumer
Bay/Frame Telecomm
Board The board that houses the electronic General
Circuit Board components (modules). This is where the General
PCB functionality takes place. General—most commonly used across the industry
Circuit Card Computer--Telecomm
Circuit Pack

Back Plane The board where the PCBs attach. Telecomm

Mother Board Computer

Component The package that contains the chip… location General

Module that the first level of operations take place. Computer
Chip General – a misnomer
Device General
Die The package (typically silicon) that houses the General
Chip parts. The hottest area on the die is typically
Silicon referred to as the “junction.”

Parts Electrical and semiconductor components such General

as resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. that
provide the electrical functionality. In reality, the
temperature of a hottest part is the true
“junction” temperature.
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Why Measure Temperature
in Electronic Systems?
Temperature and reliability are synonymous—
– Cooler devices imply better electrical operation and a longer expected
life.
Electrical Operation —
– Semiconductor device operation experiences degradation at higher
temperatures.
Reliability —
– Hard failures (fuse like breakage) occur at high temperature
– Material migration at the chip and component levels occurs at higher
temperature which can cause shorts and substrate cracking.
– Activation energy (associated with the rate of failure) is exponentially
dependent on temperature.
Monetary—
– According to AMD – a 1oC temperature reduction corresponds to $224 of
savings (1988 dollars)

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Where Should We Measure
Temperature?

Element Location Why Measure

System On the boundaries Safety

Material selection for coating
Thermal design – boundary condition

Board On the glass-epoxy, typically in Thermal analysis—

the vicinity of the hot or critical Junction temperature calculation.
component. Determination of thermal coupling between
components on the board.

Component On the component top surface, Thermal analysis—

leads and at the location Junction temperature calculation
where the lead is attached to Thermal characterization—
the board. Determination of thermal resistance (junction-to-
case or case-to-board).

Chip On the surface of the die and Junction temperature determination—for evaluating
the surrounding area on the reliability and operational integrity.
chip carrier.

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Sensors for Temperature
Measurement

Transducer Temperature Contact Remarks

or Probe Sensitive Parameter Method
Resistor Electrical resistance or Direct contact Useful as a “point” sensor.
voltage at constant
current
Thermocouple Open circuit voltage Direct contact Useful as a "point" sensor.

Diode or Voltage, usually with Direct contact Usually employed to measure an active
transistor constant forward bias device or IC temperature.
current
Infrared or Detector voltage Line-of-site or Yields a temperature map or image but not
radiation optical contact strictly qualitative unless sample emittance
(emissivity) is known at all image points.
Fluorescent Detector voltage Direct contact Approximate point detector, contact
detector (proximity) resistance a problem.

Liquid crystal Color Direct contact Yields a temperature map, semi-

quantitative unless a detailed calibration is
performed.
Temperature Color Direct contact Yields event temperature.
sensitive paint

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 Sensor Application in Electronics
Temperature Measurement
Location Resistor Thermo- Diode/ Infrared Fluore- Liquid Paint
couple Transistor scent Crystal

System Spot only, (useful Spot only Transistor Full system N/A Most Spot only
for gas and solid). (useful for gas desirable for
and solids). spot. Can
be used for
full system
(not
practical).

Board Spot only Spot only N/A Full board, N/A... Possible Full board, N/A
must know spot paint board
emissivity, thus measurement with black
treat surface ink and LC
with an agent.

Component Spot only Spot only N/A Full Can be used Full For event
component, for spot meas.. component. temp.
must know Though not a paint it with Not useful
emissivity, practical black ink for
approach. and LC dynamic
tests.

Chip/Part Maybe.. Die Maybe.. Die Yields spot Can be used Used for die Ideal for die For event
attachment an attachment is measurement.U for chip/part temperature and part temp.
issue as well as an issue seful only when measurement. measurement, meas. Not useful
the size and embedded The constraints mechanical for
mechanical are on spatial contact is an dynamic
contact. resolution. issue tests.
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Comparison of LCT and IR
Systems
Sophistication Infrared Liquid Crystal IR vs LC
Level of (IR) (LC) (n = IR/LC)
Measurement
System-- Cursory Full system Most desirable for spot. Can n = 3, can be used readily for
be used for full system (not temperature mapping. Useful
practical). for hotspot information, unless
surface emissivity is known.

Board -- Evaluation Full board, must know emissivity, Full board, must paint the n = 1.5, can used readily for
thus treat surface with an agent board with black ink and temperature mapping. Useful
(black paint or powder) liquid crystal. for hotspot information, unless
surface emissivity is known.

Component -- Full component, must know Full component. must paint n = 1, both systems are
Evaluation and emissivity, thus treat surface with an the board with black ink and capable of this measurement.
agent (black paint or powder) liquid crystal. However, LC can provide a
analysis more accurate number, but IR
time-to-measurement is
shorter.

Chip/part -- Can be used for chip/part Ideal for die and part n = 0.1, this is a sophisticated
Research quality measurement. The constraints are measurements. Must treat the measurement. IR tends to be
on emissivity, spatial resolution surface with paint and LC. inaccurate or very costly in
(max is 5 micron) and temperature Capable of measuring down this domain. LC provides a
averaging in the field of view. to 1 micron. clear advantage, while
yielding more accurate
results.

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Liquid Crystal Thermography

1- How Does LCT Work?

2- Liquid Crystals

3- Why Do You Need a System

4- thermVIEW™ System Components

5- Measurement Process

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Liquid Crystal Thermography

How Does LCT work?

The following steps are taken when measuring surface temperature

with an LCT system

a. Select the optics suitable for the spatial resolution required.

b. Select the appropriate liquid crystal and calibrate it.
c. Coat the test specimen with black paint.
d. Spray the test specimen with liquid crystal.
e. Apply power to the test specimen and start the
measurement.

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Liquid Crystal Thermography

What are thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC)?

– Thermochromic Liquid Crystals (TLC) are materials that change their
reflected color as a function of temperature when illuminated by white
light.

How are they Designated?

– Two color/temperature are used for specifying a given LC.
Example:
– R40C5W , implies, activation (red color) temperature at 40oC, a 5W
implies start of Blue at 5oC above Red.
– 5W can be a crude estimate of bandwidth of the liquid crystal-- i.e., a 40
to 45oC compound. Beyond the rated range the material will not exhibit
any colors to the naked eye.

What is a narrow-band LC
– When the LC formulation is below 2oC.
Example:
– 25C2W: implies a 25 to 27 oC compound, with red starting at 25 oC and
blue starting at 27 oC.
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Liquid Crystal Thermography
Liquid Crystal Types-
• Encapsulated — the liquid crystal material is encapsulated in a 5-10 micron
sphere suspended in a water based binder material-- provides excellent
protection.
• Unencapsulated — the material is in its native form-- susceptible to
contamination, however, once applied, produces brilliant colors.

Temperature Range
• LCs are available from -30 oC to 120 oC, and bandwidths from 0.1 oC to 30 oC.
With a LCT system, the range is expanded to 180 oC.

Why Need a System?

• Cursory measurement can be done by visual observations.
• Scientific measurement requires the Color/Temperature relationship.
• To measure with LC, one must know the relationship between temperature and
color response (calibration).

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Liquid Crystal Thermography
Temperature color relationship

T(C) Red Green Blue Hue Saturation Intensity

39.9 107.881 115.662 93.13 81.92725 30.02203 105.5577

40.2 97.013 194.411 73.189 137.7078 101.4411 121.5377

40.3 82.043 195.849 82.042 138.7264 80.62878 119.9767

40.4 77.524 183.403 103.029 129.9105 92.05212 121.3187

40.5 76.838 167.748 126.139 118.8215 96.44293 123.575

40.6 77.547 152.984 149.791 108.3637 99.01782 126.774

40.7 78.146 143.139 161.472 101.3901 98.81294 127.585

40.8 79.067 132.841 175.107 94.09571 98.71083 129.005

40.9 80.288 119.712 188.993 84.796 97.10431 129.664

A temperature, 39.9 oC, is recognized by a system with RGB values as 107.9,

115.7 and 93.1. Hence, for qualitative measurement, a system is required to
translate the RGB values into actual temperature.
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Liquid Crystal Thermography
Measurement Process

Calibration
• Apply the TLC to a clean surface.
• Subject the treated surface to known temperature levels.
• Measure and record the color response of the TLC.

Requirement
• Uniform light source on the specimen
• Isothermal calibration surface

Note:
This step is analogous to calibrating the voltage-temperature
response of a thermocouple.

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Liquid Crystal Thermography
Measurement Process

Specimen preparation
• To ensure good measurement, the goal is to have a smooth and
contaminant free calibration and the test specimen surfaces.
• Results are brilliant colors and accurate measurement.

Preparation Process
• Clean calibration and the test specimen surfaces (if possible)
with alcohol and ensure that surfaces are dry.
• Apply a “thin and uniform” coat of black paint to the test
specimen and the calibration surface (place them side by side).
• Dry the surfaces with a hot air gun at a mild temperature.
• Spray or apply the desired TLC material to both surfaces
simultaneously.

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Liquid Crystal Thermography
Measurement Process

Lighting and Light Source

• A bright and stable white light source is required to obtain

accurate and reliable reflected light intensity from a TLC coated
surface.
• The light source must be void of infrared (IR) and ultra-violet (UV)
radiation.
• Any IR energy present in the incident light will cause radiant
heating of the test surface.
• Extended exposure to UV radiation can cause rapid deterioration
of the TLC surface. This causes the surface to produce unreliable
color-temperature response performance.
• Consistent light source settings and lighting-viewing
arrangements between calibration and actual testing are
essential to minimize color-temperature interpretation errors.

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Liquid Crystal Thermography
Measurement Process

thermVIEW™ System
3 CCD digital
camera

High resolution
optics

IR free light TEC controller

Calibration
source
system,
thermCAL
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Liquid Crystal Thermography
Measurement Process

System Features

thermVIEW™ is designed to be an accurate and easy to use temperature

measurement system for scientific and engineering applications.

Some of the system’s features include:

• Transient and steady state temperature measurement capabilities

• Can be used for part (transistor) to board (PCB) level measurements
• Spatial resolution to 1 Micron
• Temperature accuracy to +/- 0.1oC
• A completely optical system based on visible light-- independent of surface
emissivity
• Fast response liquid crystal for temperature measurement and data processing
• Uses thermCAL™ for precision color-temperature calibration of TLC materials
• Flexible and versatile 3D traversing camera support

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Liquid Crystal Thermography
Measurement Process

System Features, cont’ed

• Includes a precision 2D traversing test table for accurate

positioning of the test specimen
• Fiber optic lighting for high intensity uniform illumination of the test
specimen
• Polarized optics to enhance image viewing and measurement
accuracy
• NTSC and PAL based video inputs
• Micro and macroscopic optics
• A state-of-the-art windows based user-friendly thermSOFT™
(v1.1) software for data acquisition and image processing.
thermSOFT™ contains state of the art tools for image
manipulation and data acquisition.

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Liquid Crystal Thermography
Why Use LCT as a Temperature Measurement Tool?

Advantages
• Flexibility of use in virtually any temperature measurement application from
micron sized electronic circuits to large scale gas turbine blades.
• Ultra high (<1 micron) spatial resolution and non-destructive application for
the device under test.
• Ability to easily use common color video cameras and recorders as input
devices to the system.
• Customized and cost effective solution for many demanding applications.
Two or three multiples less expensive than IR systems that offer poorer spatial
resolution.
• Enables live tests by allowing to see temperature distribution through clear
plastics (Lexan™).

Deficiencies
• Not a quick tool for measurement since the test specimen needs to be
treated by LC; unless one uses plastic films treated with LCs
• Not a suitable tool for very large surfaces, i.e., system level tool.
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 LC and IR Thermography
Systems Compared

IR LC Remarks
Test specimen surface treatment Yes Yes required for both systems

Steady state measurement Yes Yes

Transient measurement Yes Yes
Non-evasive measurement Yes No Must know emissivity for IR system
Ease of use Yes Yes
Video imagery No Yes
Compactness and transportability Yes No
Surface emissivity Yes (must) No LC is in the visible wavelength
Ability to see through plastics and glass No Yes
Resolution
Temperature +/- 2oC +/- 0.1oC
Spatial 5 micron 1 micron or less 5 micron is the physical limit of IR
Price
Base system 40k-70k 34k
Microscopic (part level) 180k+ 45k

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Liquid Crystal Thermography
Summary

• LCT has been used since 1950s and been present in the
electronics industry since mid-eighties.
• Liquid crystals are a proven material for temperature
measurement.
• LCT is a tool with points of weakness and strength. Thus, it is best
suited for device and board levels temperature measurements.
• The ability to see and measure temperature gradients through
transparent plastics (e.g., Lexan™) is a unique and powerful
asset of LCT.
• Liquid crystals can be used for both qualitative and quantitative
measurements. The qualitative measurements do require a
complete system for accurate data.
• Like any other measurement system, LC calibration is of
paramount importance in the accuracy of the measurement.

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