models.heat.surface_mount_package
models.heat.surface_mount_package
models.heat.surface_mount_package
This model is licensed under the COMSOL Software License Agreement 6.2.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. See www.comsol.com/trademarks.
Introduction
All integrated circuits — especially high-speed devices — produce heat. In today’s dense
electronic system layouts heat sources are many times placed close to heat-sensitive ICs.
Designers of printed-circuit boards often need to consider the relative placement of heat-
sensitive and heat-producing devices, so that the sensitive ones do not overheat.
One type of heat-generating device is a voltage regulator, which can produce several watts
of heat and reach a temperature higher than 70C. If the board design places such a device
close to a surface-mounted package that contains a sensitive silicon chip, the regulator’s
heat could cause reliability problems and failure due to overheating.
Q
Silicon chip
Interconnect
Circuit board
Ground plate
Voltage regulator
Figure 1: Layout of the simulated silicon device, its package, and a voltage regulator. The chip
and the voltage regulator are connected through a ground plate, a pin, and the interconnect.
This simulation investigates the thermal situation for a silicon chip in a surface-mount
package placed on a circuit board close to a hot voltage regulator. The chip is subjected to
heat from the regulator and from internally generated heat.
Model Definition
The model is based on a SMD IC and voltage regulator layout as in Figure 1. The silicon
chip sits in the center of the package and dissipates its heat to the surrounding
environments. The chip also connects to a ground plane through an interconnect and one
of the pins. A heat generating voltage regulator is placed on the same ground plane. This
Heat transfers through the mount package to the surroundings through conduction
according to:
– k T = Q
The heat source, Q, is negligible in the circuit board, pins, and package, while in the chip,
this model sets that parameter to a value equivalent to 20 mW. The conductivities of the
components are chosen to be similar to:
Heat dissipates from all air-exposed surfaces through forced heat convection, which is
modeled using a heat transfer coefficient, h:
– n q = h T inf – T
The voltage regulator is simulated by setting a fixed temperature at that surface. The thin
conducting layers of the ground plane and interconnect within the package is modeled
using a 2D shell approximation, according to:
t –ds k t T = 0
where ds is the layer’s thickness, and t represents the nabla operator projected onto the
direction of the plane. The model uses a Heat Transfer interface to describe the 3D heat
transfer as well as the 2D shell heat transfer.
Figure 2: Slice plot of the temperature through the circuit board, interconnect, chip, and
package. The effect of the interconnect is evident by its ability to conduct heat from the chip to
the outer parts of the package.
An alternative view is achieved by using the transparency feature in the visualization tools
of COMSOL Multiphysics. This results in a transparent 3D view of the temperature
distribution, as shown in Figure 3. In that figure you can see the temperature distribution
around the chip and along the interconnect.
The simulation predicts a maximum temperature of the silicon device of 47.6C. This
means that the device does not overheat in the present configuration.
While the numerical method considers these two modeling domains as interior
boundaries, the model still includes a thickness to take the 3D heat flux into account.
Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.
NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.
MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 3D.
2 In the Select Physics tree, select Heat Transfer>Heat Transfer in Solids (ht).
3 Click Add.
4 Click Study.
5 In the Select Study tree, select General Studies>Stationary.
6 Click Done.
GEOMETRY 1
The geometry sequence for the model is available in a file. If you want to create it from
scratch yourself, you can follow the instructions in the Geometry Modeling Instructions
section. Otherwise, insert the geometry sequence as follows:
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Insert Sequence and choose Insert Sequence.
2 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
surface_mount_package_geom_sequence.mph.
3 In the Geometry toolbar, click Build All.
4 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
MATERIALS
To define material properties for the model domains, use four predefined materials from
the Material Browser and one custom material.
ADD MATERIAL
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Material to open the Add Material window.
2 Go to the Add Material window.
3 In the tree, select Built-in>Aluminum.
4 Click Add to Component in the window toolbar.
5 In the tree, select Built-in>FR4 (Circuit Board).
6 Click Add to Component in the window toolbar.
MATERIALS
Aluminum (mat1)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Materials click
Aluminum (mat1).
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Pins.
Plastic
1 In the Materials toolbar, click Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, type Plastic in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Geometric Entity Selection section. From the Selection list, choose
Chip Package.
4 In the Model Builder window, expand the Component 1 (comp1)>Materials>Plastic (mat3)
node, then click Basic (def).
ADD MATERIAL
1 Go to the Add Material window.
2 In the tree, select Built-in>Silicon.
3 Click Add to Component in the window toolbar.
4 In the tree, select Built-in>Copper.
MATERIALS
Silicon (mat4)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Materials click Silicon (mat4).
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Chip.
Copper (mat5)
1 In the Model Builder window, click Copper (mat5).
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 From the Selection list, choose Copper Layers.
This completes the materials settings.
Heat Source 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click
Heat Transfer in Solids (ht) and choose Heat Source.
2 Select Domain 11 only.
3 In the Settings window for Heat Source, locate the Heat Source section.
4 In the Q0 text field, type 2e8.
This completes the domain settings. Now, set up the boundary conditions.
Heat Flux 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Heat Flux.
2 In the Settings window for Heat Flux, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Exterior Boundaries.
4 Locate the Heat Flux section. From the Flux type list, choose Convective heat flux.
5 In the h text field, type 50.
6 In the Text text field, type 30[degC].
Temperature 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Temperature.
Thin Layer 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Thin Layer.
2 Select Boundary 7 only.
3 In the Settings window for Thin Layer, locate the Shell Properties section.
4 From the Shell type list, choose Nonlayered shell. Locate the Layer Model section. From
the Layer type list, choose Thermally thin approximation.
Thin Layer 2
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Thin Layer.
2 In the Settings window for Thin Layer, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Interconnect.
4 Locate the Shell Properties section. From the Shell type list, choose Nonlayered shell. In
the Lth text field, type 5e-6[m].
5 Locate the Layer Model section. From the Layer type list, choose
Thermally thin approximation.
MESH 1
Size 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Mesh 1 and choose
Size.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 Select Boundaries 4 and 7 only.
5 Locate the Element Size section. From the Predefined list, choose Extra fine.
Free Tetrahedral 1
In the Mesh toolbar, click Free Tetrahedral.
Size
1 In the Model Builder window, click Size.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section.
3 From the Predefined list, choose Fine.
STUDY 1
In the Home toolbar, click Compute.
RESULTS
By default, you get a 3D plot of temperature. Note that the temperature is displayed in
degrees Kelvin, which is the default temperature unit in the SI system.
To get a temperature plot in degrees Celsius, simply change the unit for the first default
plot group.
Domain
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Temperature (ht) node, then click
Domain.
2 In the Settings window for Volume, locate the Expression section.
3 From the Unit list, choose degC.
Nonlayered Shell
1 In the Model Builder window, click Nonlayered Shell.
2 In the Settings window for Surface Slit, locate the Expression on the Upside section.
3 From the Unit list, choose degC.
4 Locate the Expression on the Downside section. From the Unit list, choose degC.
5 In the Temperature (ht) toolbar, click Plot.
8 Click the Transparency button in the Graphics toolbar again to remove the
transparency.
RESULTS
Multislice 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Temperature, Multislice (ht) node, then click
Multislice 1.
2 In the Settings window for Multislice, locate the Multiplane Data section.
To visualize the temperature distribution on the silicon chip’s bottom surface, follow the
steps given below.
Surface 1
1 In the Temperature, Chip Surface toolbar, click Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 From the Unit list, choose degC.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. Click Change Color Table.
5 In the Color Table dialog box, select Thermal>HeatCameraLight in the tree.
6 Click OK.
Selection 1
1 In the Temperature, Chip Surface toolbar, click Selection.
2 Select Boundary 195 only.
3 In the Temperature, Chip Surface toolbar, click Plot.
4 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
Compare the resulting plot to that in Figure 4.
GEOMETRY 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Geometry 1.
PC Board
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Block.
2 In the Settings window for Block, type PC Board in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Size and Shape section. In the Width text field, type 20.
4 In the Depth text field, type 10.
5 Locate the Position section. In the x text field, type -10.
6 In the y text field, type -5.
7 In the z text field, type -1.9.
8 Locate the Selections of Resulting Entities section. Select the Resulting objects selection
check box.
Block 2 (blk2)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Block.
2 In the Settings window for Block, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type 9.9.
4 In the Depth text field, type 3.9.
5 In the Height text field, type 0.2.
6 Locate the Position section. From the Base list, choose Center.
Hexahedron 1 (hex1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click More Primitives and choose Hexahedron.
2 In the Settings window for Hexahedron, locate the Vertices section.
3 In row 1, set x to -4.95.
4 In row 2, set x to 4.95.
5 In row 3, set x to 4.95.
6 In row 4, set x to -4.95.
7 In row 5, set x to -4.95.
8 In row 6, set x to 4.95.
9 In row 7, set x to 4.95.
10 In row 8, set x to -4.95.
11 In row 1, set y to -1.95.
Mirror 1 (mir1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Transforms and choose Mirror.
2 Select the object hex1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Mirror, locate the Input section.
4 Select the Keep input objects check box.
Chip Package
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Booleans and Partitions and choose Union.
2 In the Settings window for Union, type Chip Package in the Label text field.
3 Select the objects blk2, hex1, and mir1 only.
4 Locate the Union section. Clear the Keep interior boundaries check box.
5 Locate the Selections of Resulting Entities section. Select the Resulting objects selection
check box.
Revolve 1 (rev1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Revolve.
2 On the object blk3, select Boundary 3 only.
3 In the Settings window for Revolve, locate the Revolution Angles section.
4 Click the Angles button.
5 In the End angle text field, type 90.
6 Locate the Revolution Axis section. From the Axis type list, choose 3D.
7 Find the Point on the revolution axis subsection. In the y text field, type -2.211.
8 In the z text field, type -0.24.
9 Find the Direction of revolution axis subsection. In the x text field, type 1.
10 In the y text field, type 0.
Extrude 1 (ext1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Extrude.
2 On the object rev1, select Boundary 2 only.
3 In the Settings window for Extrude, locate the Distances section.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:
Distances (mm)
0.322
Revolve 2 (rev2)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Revolve.
2 On the object ext1, select Boundary 3 only.
3 In the Settings window for Revolve, locate the Revolution Angles section.
Extrude 2 (ext2)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Extrude.
2 On the object rev2, select Boundary 2 only.
3 In the Settings window for Extrude, locate the Distances section.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:
Distances (mm)
0.16
Union 2 (uni2)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Booleans and Partitions and choose Union.
2 Select the object ext2 only.
3 In the Settings window for Union, locate the Union section.
4 Clear the Keep interior boundaries check box.
Array 1 (arr1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Transforms and choose Array.
2 Select the object uni2 only.
3 In the Settings window for Array, locate the Size section.
4 In the x size text field, type 8.
5 Locate the Displacement section. In the x text field, type 1.27.
6 Locate the Selections of Resulting Entities section. Find the Cumulative selection
subsection. Click New.
7 In the New Cumulative Selection dialog box, type Pins in the Name text field.
8 Click OK.
Mirror 2 (mir2)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Transforms and choose Mirror.
Interconnect
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1 right-click
Work Plane 1 (wp1) and choose Work Plane.
2 In the Settings window for Work Plane, type Interconnect in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Selections of Resulting Entities section. Select the Resulting objects selection
check box.
Chip
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1 right-click
Interconnect (wp2) and choose Block.
2 In the Settings window for Block, type Chip in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Size and Shape section. In the Height text field, type 0.1.
4 Locate the Selections of Resulting Entities section. Select the Resulting objects selection
check box.
5 Locate the Position section. From the Base list, choose Center.
Geometry
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Selections and choose Explicit Selection.
2 In the Settings window for Explicit Selection, type Geometry in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Entities to Select section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose Object.
4 Select the object fin only.
Exterior Boundaries
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Selections and choose Adjacent Selection.
2 In the Settings window for Adjacent Selection, type Exterior Boundaries in the Label
text field.
3 Locate the Input Entities section. Click Add.
4 In the Add dialog box, select Geometry in the Input selections list.
5 Click OK.
Copper Layers
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Selections and choose Explicit Selection.
2 In the Settings window for Explicit Selection, locate the Entities to Select section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 On the object fin, select Boundaries 7 and 37 only.
5 In the Label text field, type Copper Layers.