Article ID: 000085791 Content Type: Product Information & Documentation Last Reviewed: 09/11/2012

How do I calculate the maximum allowed power (PMAX) when using a heat sink?

Environment

BUILT IN - ARTICLE INTRO SECOND COMPONENT
Description The basic equation for PMAX remains unchanged with or without a heat sink:PMAX = (tJ - tA) / (theta ja) However, the theta ja value used for this equation must be obtained from the following equation:

(theta ja) = (theta jc) (theta cs) (theta sa)

where:

theta jc: junction-to-case thermal resistance
theta cs: case-to-sink thermal resistance
theta sa: sink-to-ambient thermal resistance

Theta ja is the junction-to-ambient thermal resistance. When a heat sink is involved, there are three basic materials that affect thermal resistance. The first is the actual device, whose thermal resistance is theta jc. The second value is the thermal resistance of the material used to stick or glue the heat sink to the semiconductor package (theta cs). The final value is the thermal resistance of the heat sink itself (theta sa). You can find the theta jc value from the Altera Device Package Information Data Sheet. However, you must contact the glue and heat sink third-party vendors for theta cs and theta sa.

Related Products

This article applies to 1 products

Intel® Programmable Devices