Communications of the ACM
Researchers Design Circuits Capable of Functioning at Temperatures Greater Than 650 Degrees Fahrenheit
Integrated circuits capable of operating at temperatures in excess of 660 degrees Fahrenheit could improve the functioning of analog and digital circuits in power electronics, automobiles, and aerospace equipment.
Credit: Arkansas Newswire
University of Arkansas researchers have developed integrated circuits that can function at temperatures greater than 660 degrees Fahrenheit, a breakthrough they say will improve the functioning of processors, drivers, controllers, and other analog and digital circuits used in power electronics, automobiles, and aerospace equipment.
"This ruggedness allows these circuits to be placed in locations where standard silicon-based parts can't survive," says Arkansas professor Alan Mantooth. "The circuit blocks we designed contributed to superior performance of signal processing, controllers, and driver circuitry." He says the new circuits will lead to tight integration of control, improve electrical efficiency, and reduce the overall size and complexity of these systems.
The researchers worked with silicon carbide because it can withstand extremely high voltage and is a good thermal conductor. The researchers achieved the higher performance by combining silicon carbide with wide temperature design techniques.
The work represents the first implementation of several analog, digital, and mixed-signal blocks, such as a phase-locked loop using a complementary-style silicon carbide technology.
From Arkansas Newswire
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