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Thermoelectric active cooling for transient hot spots in microprocessors

Author

Listed:
  • Yihan Liu

    (University of Pittsburgh)

  • Hao-Yuan Cheng

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Jonathan A. Malen

    (Carnegie Mellon University
    Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Feng Xiong

    (University of Pittsburgh)

Abstract

Modern microprocessor performance is limited by local hot spots induced at high frequency by busy integrated circuit elements such as the clock generator. Locally embedded thermoelectric devices (TEDs) are proposed to perform active cooling whereby thermoelectric effects enhance passive cooling by the Fourier law in removing heat from the hot spot to colder regions. To mitigate transient heating events and improve temperature stability, we propose a novel analytical solution that describes the temperature response of a periodically heated hot spot that is actively cooled by a TED driven electrically at the same frequency. The analytical solution that we present is validated by experimental data from frequency domain thermal reflectance (FDTR) measurements made directly on an actively cooled Si thermoelectric device where the pump laser replicates the transient hot spot. We herein demonstrate a practical method to actively cancel the transient temperature variations on circuit elements with TEDs. This result opens a new path to optimize the design of cooling systems for transient localized hot spots in integrated circuits.

Suggested Citation

  • Yihan Liu & Hao-Yuan Cheng & Jonathan A. Malen & Feng Xiong, 2024. "Thermoelectric active cooling for transient hot spots in microprocessors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48583-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48583-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lv, Hao & Wang, Xiao-Dong & Wang, Tian-Hu & Meng, Jing-Hui, 2015. "Optimal pulse current shape for transient supercooling of thermoelectric cooler," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 788-796.
    2. Ruchika Dhawan & Prabuddha Madusanka & Gangyi Hu & Jeff Debord & Toan Tran & Kenneth Maggio & Hal Edwards & Mark Lee, 2020. "Si0.97Ge0.03 microelectronic thermoelectric generators with high power and voltage densities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
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