I’ve all the time been fascinated about simple-looking parts which remedy well-defined, clear, bounded issues. One carpentry instance I encountered and used a few years in the past is formally often called a hanger bolt, Determine 1.
Determine 1 (left) The schematic of the hanger bolt exhibits it interfaces a wood-screw thread with a machine-screw thread; (proper) the hanger bolt permits a picket furnishings aspect to be related to a metallic becoming. Supply: Plaster and Catastrophe
One finish has a wood-screw thread and different has a machine screw for a nut or threaded becoming. It’s the mechanical “interface” between a picket aspect resembling a desk leg and a metallic mounting bracket.
There’s even a specialised model that contains a reversed (left-hand) thread on the machine-screw facet, used for suspending development wiring or metallic assemblies from wooden. These reverse-thread hanger bolts remedy a delicate drawback, the place the continual rotation of an meeting would trigger a typical right-hand threaded fastener to unscrew, whereas a left-hand fastener would stay securely in place.
There are additionally intelligent electrical parts, after all. Given the variety of years I’ve been “hanging round” digital feedback, circuits, and methods, I believed I used to be considerably acquainted with, or not less than conscious of, nearly all of those, particularly these associated to administration and elimination of warmth. I’ve had an extended affinity for warmth sinks, Determine 2, in addition to warmth pipes (sure, I do know that sounds bizarre). They do one factor, they do it properly, they’re dependable, they don’t push again, and so they don’t want software program, initialization, consideration, or periodic upgrades.
Determine 2 Three of the warmth sinks I’ve collected through the years: (left) slip-on “wings” for a TO-5 can transistor; (center) warmth sink designed for the Intel Pentium II from the late Nineteen Nineties; (proper) a big warmth sink for a power-converter module. Supply: Invoice Schweber
Think about my shock once I noticed a press launch (“TMJ Thermal Jumpers Assist Decrease Temperatures for Excessive Energy Provides”) from Stackpole Electronics, Inc. (SEI) for a element whose identify and performance have been new to me: the “surface-mount thermal jumper resistor”, or just “thermal jumper”, Determine 3. The phrase “resistor” undoubtedly had me confused there, so I clicked over to the information sheet (“TMJ Collection Floor Mount Thermal Jumper Chip Resistor”) however discovered that it had all of the details associated to scores, measurement, and so forth, however didn’t have the “story” on functions.
Determine 3 The thermal jumper could be very plain and provides no trace as to its perform. Supply: Stackpole Electronics, Inc.
Subsequent step was a fast Google search and, not surprisingly, noticed a number of pages of hyperlinks to clothes outerwear thermal jumpers designed to maintain you heat in cool however not chilly climate. Finally, I reached a web page of technical hyperlinks once I noticed this entry from one other element vendor (Vishay), which acknowledged it clearly: “a thermal jumper permits the connecting of high-power gadgets to warmth sinks with out grounding or in any other case electrically connecting the gadgets.”
OK, now it made sense, or not less than began to take action.
The thermal jumper makes use of an aluminum-nitride (AIN) substrate with excessive thermal conductivity to supply a low (not zero) path for thermal power (warmth) to get away from its supply to a close-by warmth sink of some sort. On the similar time, it affords a excessive insulation resistance between its electrical terminals.
This jumper is the thermal analog to a zero-ohm resistor. As that identify signifies, the zero-ohm system seems like a traditional resistor however is definitely a brief circuit. It’s used as a machine-insertable jumper to work round PC board-layout challenges (particularly on single-sided boards), as a placeholder when a board has a number of configurations, or to obscure circuit specifics by camouflaging some particulars.
I nonetheless wasn’t positive about the way to truly use this element, however an utility video (“ThermaWick® Thermal Jumper Demo”) from Vishay confirmed the way it capabilities as a tiny bridge from a resistor as warmth supply to a close-by PCB copper space functioning as a warmth sink, Determine 4.
Determine 4 The take a look at association has a one-watt resistor with out warmth sinking on the left facet, and an similar resistor however with thermal jumper and PC-board copper as warmth sink on the best facet. Supply: Vishay Intertechnology
Utilizing a Fluke thermal imager, the video confirmed the resistor with out thermal jumper was at about 140°C whereas the one with the jumper and the modest heat-sink space was at 100°C, a big 40°C distinction (after all, the distinction can also be a perform of the dimensions the related PCB copper appearing as a warmth sink).
Determine 5 The left-right temperature differential between resistor was about 40°C. Supply: Vishay Intertechnology
This thermal jumper is an efficient method to remedy a particular class of issues). After all, though it’s easy in look and performance, it isn’t. It takes engineers, manufacturing specialists, materials consultants, and folks expert in lots of different disciplines to make it occur and accomplish that in quantity manufacturing.
Have you ever even discovered a small, unassuming passive or energetic electrical or mechanical element that’s easy and intelligent, and at similar time solves a pesky drawback? Did it “save the day” and resolve an issue that was inflicting you to lose sleep, to make use of a cliché?
Invoice Schweber is an EE who has written three textbooks, a whole bunch of technical articles, opinion columns, and product options.
Associated Content material
- My long-running affection for warmth sinks
- Goodbye, thermal grease; whats up, integral warmth sink?
- False impression revealed: Can a warmth sink be too massive?
- Name on mechanical engineers to unravel your robust thermal issues
- “Skinny is in” as RF-module shrinkage additionally enhances thermal efficiency
- The Zero-Ohm Resistor: A “Easy” Passive Element
References
- Stackpole Electronics, “Utilizing Thermal Jumpers to Clear up Temperature Points for Energy Provides, Amplifiers and Servers” (app word)
- Stackpole Electronics, “TMJ Thermal Jumpers Assist Decrease Temperatures for Excessive Energy Provides” (press launch)
- Stackpole Electronics, “TMJ Collection Floor Mount Thermal Jumper Chip Resistor” (knowledge sheet)
- Vishay Intertechnology, “ThermaWick® Thermal Jumper Electrically Remoted Thermal Conductor” (utility temporary)
- Vishay Intertechnology, “ThermaWick® Thermal Jumper Functionality” (utility temporary)
- Vishay Intertechnology, “ThermaWick® Thermal Jumper Demo” (comparative video)
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