Patent ID: 6646340
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A microprocessor comprising:a semiconductor substrate containing a transistor; an electrically conductive line to carry an electrical current associated with the transistor, the line containing an electrically conductive material that has an electrical resistance to convert a portion of the electrical current into heat; and a thermally coupling electrically decoupling cooling device disposed between the electrically conductive line and the semiconductor substrate, the cooling device containing: a thermally conductive structure attached to the electrically conductive line to receive the heat from the electrically conductive line and conduct the heat away from the electrically conductive line by thermal conduction, wherein the thermally conductive structure contains a thermally conductive material having a thermal conductivity greater than that of silicon dioxide, wherein the thermally conductive structure contains at least one via attached to the electrically conductive line and at least a second electrically conductive line attached to the via; and a current blocking structure attached between the thermally conductive structure and the semiconductor substrate to receive the heat from the thermally conductive structure and conduct the heat to the semiconductor substrate by thermal conduction, wherein the current blocking structure contains an electrically insulating dielectric layer to block flow of the electrical current carried by the electrically conductive line into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the electrically insulating dielectric layer has a thickness that is between 1-100 nanometers.