AMD patents Peltier cooler on chip

AN AMD PATENT approved on October the 5th last has interesting implications for the system builder future.

US patent number 6,800,933 was filed on the 23rd of April 2001, with the following abstract: "Various embodiments of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate incorporating a Peltier effect heat transfer device and methods of fabricating the same are provided. In one aspect, a circuit device is provided that includes an insulating substrate, a semiconductor structure positioned on the insulating substrate and a Peltier effect heat transfer device coupled to the insulating substrate to transfer heat between the semiconductor structure and the insulating substrate."

A source who understands this sort of stuff said that the patent could be a way of mastering problems associated with 65 nanometre technology.

He said: "It is possible to air cool a TEC (Peltier) powered by a 12V molex connector with a copper based cooler and high c.f.m. fan to the degree that CPU temperatures are healthy enough to be considered normal air cooled temperatures (read 45 - 60 degrees Celsius) and keep the T.E.C. healthy enough. If a TEC hot side isn't cooled enough the dissimilar ion effect cannot happen and the so called cold side doesn't become cold enough.

"AMD's possible idea is to mount the TEC into the CPU package and power by Vcc high-plane and GND to prevent any extra wiring for "back of newspaper" so-called system builders. Couple this with a PIB cooler that is good enough to remove the heat from the hotside and they have a cooler running 65 nanometre CPU".

He continued: "When you move froma 0.13 micron CPU at 1.5v to a 0.09 micron CPU at 1.5v you make the MOSFET loading increase by around 44%. When you go 0.065 micron that is 100% greater than at 0.13 micron at 1.5v and 38% greater than .09 micron at 1.5v.">

He added: "So great - they have the CPU covered easily, but how does Mr Motherboard voltage regulation circuit designer tackle this problem in a cost effective manner ? We are talking in the region of 12 pcs 16v c. 2000 micro farad capacitors of very high quality and 12 pcs 60v half step mosfets! Wait for mainboard prices to go through the roof with the introduction of "cheap" processors that will make CPU manufacturers neat margins as through their stature they retain their "high enough" ASPs. µ