Patent ID: 6923570
Filing Date: 2005-08-02
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A test method, comprising: squeezing a thermally conductive thermal interface material (TIM) sample at a plurality of different pressures at different times; flowing heat through said TIM sample to create a gradient between a heat source and a cold sink at said plurality of different pressures; measuring temperatures at a plurality of points along said thermal gradient at respective ones of said plurality of different pressures; adjusting the pressure applied at each of said plurality of different pressures to maintain a constant pressure on the TIM sample even though said TIM sample expands and contracts with changes in its temperature; and characterizing the thermal material properties of said TIM sample from calculations based on data obtained in the step of measuring following a time when the temperature measurements in the step of measuring should have reached a steady-state according to a previous trial run of said TIM sample.