Imbera is a joint venture of Aspocomp Group Oyj and Elcoteq Network Corp. that is developing a production process that integrates active components inside the PCB structure. PCB manufacturing, component packaging, and assembly are incorporated into a single manufacturing process. All interconnections between the IC and substrate are processed simultaneously.
 
The thermal properties of the new technology were challenging to define because the technology is so new and is developing very rapidly. Tight schedules limited the number of prototyping runs that could be executed. Flotherm software from Flomerics is suited to this type of complicated electronics cooling problem because it is designed for electronic cooling applications. It provides a number of thermal model libraries for existing components and tools that allow users to assemble models from libraries.
 
Imbera engineers used Flotherm to model two types of IMB structures, BGA modules and ICs embedded in motherboards, in a standard still air environment. Simulations provided fundamental information about the behavior of the structure. The simulation results made it possible for Imbera engineers to optimize the various methods afforded by IMB technology to keep the product operating temperature within specifications.
 
The simulation models were validated by performing measurements with MicReD’s “T3Ster” thermal tester. It can test up to eight components at one time and analyze the results as the test is being performed.
 

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