Tony answers the age old question of using the PCB itself as a heat sink. A mechanical/thermal engineer in Quebec asks Tony:
Dear Monsieur Know-It-All,
These, as you say, doggone SMT (surface mount) components have shrunk so much that I cannot even consider putting a heat sink on them anymore. Is it possible to use the copper traces in the PCB (printed circuit board) as a heat sink? If so, how would I estimate the heat sink capability of the PCB, assuming that I know the pattern of copper traces and the thermal resistance of the component package?
Regards,
Quizzical in Quebec
What would you say to Quizzical in Quebec? To see what Tony Koryban would say, click on over to: Tony Koryban’s Mail Bag Archives