Patent ID: 9651431
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: G01K,H01L

Claim:
1. A method of estimating a surface temperature of a semiconductor device including a semiconductor package, the method comprising: measuring temperatures of a lower portion, an intermediate portion and an upper portion of the semiconductor package by first, second and third temperature sensors respectively connected to the lower, intermediate and the upper portions of the semiconductor package; determining a first thermal resistance of a portion of the semiconductor package between the first and second temperature sensors and a second thermal resistance of a portion of the semiconductor package between the second and third temperature sensors; determining first energy consumed from the intermediate portion to the upper portion of the semiconductor package and second energy consumed from the intermediate portion to the lower portion of the semiconductor package using the measured temperatures and the determined first and second thermal resistances; estimating temperatures of a top surface and a bottom surface of the semiconductor device using the determined first and second energies; and operating the semiconductor device when the estimated temperatures of the top surface and the bottom surface of the semiconductor device exist in a predetermined temperature range.