Patent ID: 12249387

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, calculate, determine, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, communicate, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer (e.g., desktop or laptop), tablet computer, mobile device (e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA) or smart phone), server (e.g., blade server or rack server), a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, touchscreen and/or a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.

In one embodiment, IHS100,FIG.1, includes a processor102, which is connected to a bus104. Bus104serves as a connection between processor102and other components of IHS100. An input device106is coupled to processor102to provide input to processor102. Examples of input devices may include keyboards, touchscreens, pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs, and trackpads, and/or a variety of other input devices known in the art. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device108, which is coupled to processor102. Examples of mass storage devices may include hard discs, optical disks, magneto-optical discs, solid-state storage devices, and/or a variety of other mass storage devices known in the art. IHS100further includes a display110, which is coupled to processor102by a video controller112. A system memory114is coupled to processor102to provide the processor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by processor102. Examples of system memory may include random access memory (RAM) devices such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), solid state memory devices, and/or a variety of other memory devices known in the art. In an embodiment, a chassis116houses some or all of the components of IHS100. It should be understood that other buses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and processor102to facilitate interconnection between the components and the processor102.

Referring now toFIGS.2A and2B, an embodiment of a multi-zone temperature testing device200is illustrated that may be provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the multi-zone temperature testing device200includes a chassis202having a top wall202aand a bottom wall202bthat is located opposite the chassis202from the top wall202aand spaced apart from the top wall202a. In an embodiment, the top wall202aand the bottom wall202bof the chassis202may be provided by any of a variety of heat conductive materials that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. For example, the top wall202aand the bottom wall202bof the chassis202may be provided by heat conductive sheets that are configured to spread heat generated during the testing described below. Furthermore, as discussed below, while only the top wall202aand the bottom wall202bof the chassis200are illustrated inFIGS.2A and2B, the chassis202may include a variety of other components, elements, and/or features that one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure would recognize as providing any of the functionality described below.

A plurality of thermoelectric modules are coupled to the chassis202between the top wall202aand the bottom wall202b, with the specific examples illustrated and described herein including six thermoelectric modules204provided in a 2×3 configuration, as can be seen clearly inFIG.2Bthat omits the top wall202aand the bottom wall202bof the chassis202for clarity with regard to the thermoelectric modules204. As can be seen, each thermoelectric module204may include a first surface204a, a second surface204bthat is located opposite that thermoelectric module204from the first surface204a, and a pair of power couplings204cthat extends from that thermoelectric module204between the first surface204aand the second surface204b. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, each of the thermoelectric modules204may be configured to operate according to the Peltier effect to create a heat flux at the junction of two different types of materials in order to transfer heat between the first surface204aand the second surface204bin response to a current being generated in the thermoelectric module204via the power couplings204c.

For example, each thermoelectric module204may include two different semiconductor materials (e.g., an n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor with different electron densities) that may be configured in an alternating pillar arrangement, thermally parallel to each other and electrically in series between respective conducting plates (e.g., ceramic conducting plates) that provide the first surface204aand the second surface204b. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, when a voltage is applied to the power couplings204cto produce a current across the junction of the semiconductor materials, a temperature difference will be generated due to, for example, a “first” side of the thermoelectric module204with the first surface204aabsorbing heat that is transferred by the semiconductor materials to a “second” side of the thermoelectric module204with the second surface204b. As such, each thermoelectric module204may be powered to transmit heat across that thermoelectric module204between a “hot” surface (e.g., one of the first surface204aand the second surface204b) and a “cold” surface (e.g., the other of the first surface204aand the second surface204b).

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the amount of heat that may be transmitted between the hot surface and the cold surface on the thermoelectric module204(i.e., the heat flux) will depend on the temperature difference between the hot surface and the cold surface on the thermoelectric module204and the current produced in the thermoelectric module204. For example, if the hot surface and the cold surface of the thermoelectric module204are the same temperature, a relatively large heat flux may be generated by the thermoelectric module204when sufficient current is produced in the thermoelectric module204. However, if the temperature difference of the hot surface and the cold surface of the thermoelectric module204is relatively high, a relatively small heat flux may be generated by the thermoelectric module204even when a maximum current is produced in the thermoelectric module204. Furthermore, if a first voltage applied to the power couplings204con the thermoelectric module204produces a first heat flux in the thermoelectric module204, a second voltage that is opposite/reversed relative to the first voltage will produce a second heat flux in an opposite direction in the thermoelectric module204relative to the first heat flux. However, while a specific example of the thermoelectric modules204has been described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that thermoelectric modules may be configured and/or may operate in different manners while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

In some embodiments, the multi-zone temperature testing device200may be an integrated testing device that may be provided by integrating the thermoelectric modules204with the chassis202in a set configuration. For example, the thermoelectric modules204may be epoxied in place to each other and/or the chassis202(e.g., between the heat conductive sheets that provide the top wall202aand the bottom wall202bof the chassis202) in a desired configuration, and as discussed below the configuration of the thermoelectric modules204may be provided depending on the configuration of the components on the test devices that the multi-zone temperature testing device200will test. As such, while the specific example of the multi-zone temperature testing device200described herein includes a particular configuration, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how different testing devices may be provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure in different configurations for each test device that has a corresponding configuration that will be tested.

To provide a specific example, in addition to the multi-zone temperature testing device200ofFIGS.2A and2Bthat include thermoelectric modules204provided in the 2×3 configuration, a testing device may be provided with thermoelectric modules in a 1×3×2 configuration that corresponds to a test device configuration of a test device, discussed in further detail below. However, while the provisioning of different multi-zone temperature testing devices for particular test device configurations has been described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how a multi-zone temperature testing device may be provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure to provide a grid or matrix of thermoelectric modules with a sufficient “thermoelectric-module-granularity” (e.g., a 10×20 grid of relatively small thermoelectric modules) to test any of a variety of differently configured test devices similarly as discussed below (e.g., with any of the thermoelectric modules positioned adjacent components of interest on the test device activated to produce the heat fluxes discussed below, while any of the thermoelectric modules that are not positioned adjacent components of interest on the test device are not activated to produce the heat fluxes discussed below).

In other embodiments, the multi-zone temperature testing device200may be a modular testing device that may be provided by modular thermoelectric modules204that are configured to couple to each other and/or the chassis202in order to allow a user to provide the multi-zone temperature testing device200in different configurations based on any particular test device that will be tested. As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the thermoelectric modules204and/or the chassis202may include any of a variety of coupling features that would allow the connection and/or coupling of the thermoelectric modules204to each other and/or the chassis202in order to provide the multi-zone temperature testing device200in different configurations for any test devices that has a corresponding configuration that will be tested. To provide a specific example, the multi-zone temperature testing device200ofFIGS.2A and2Bthat include thermoelectric modules204provided in the 2×3 configuration may be reconfigured to provide the thermoelectric modules204in a 1×3×2 configuration that corresponds to a test device configuration of a test device, discussed in further detail below.

As discussed below, the pairs of power couplings204con each of the thermoelectric modules204in the multi-zone temperature testing device200will be coupled to a temperature control subsystem that is configured to power the thermoelectric modules204. As such, a variety of controller coupling techniques may be utilized to allow the temperature control subsystem to power the thermoelectric modules204. For example, separate wiring/cabling may be provided between the power couplings204con each of the thermoelectric modules204in the multi-zone temperature testing device200and the temperature control subsystem. However, in other examples, the pairs of power couplings204con each of the thermoelectric modules204in the multi-zone temperature testing device200may be coupled to a single connector that is provided to allow the temperature control subsystem to couple to each of the power couplings204con each of the thermoelectric modules204in the multi-zone temperature testing device200via a single wire/cable/connector. As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that, while not explicitly illustrated herein, the pairs of power couplings204con the thermoelectric modules204in the multi-zone temperature testing device200may be configured in a variety of manners to allow for the functionality of the thermoelectric modules204described below.

Referring now toFIG.3, an embodiment of a test device300is illustrated that may tested using the multi-zone temperature testing device of the present disclosure. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the testing device300may be configured for use by the IHS100discussed above with reference toFIG.1, and in the specific examples discussed below is provided by a NAND storage subsystem that may be included in a storage device (e.g., the storage device108) that may be used to store data in the IHS100. However, while illustrated and discussed as being provided by a specific component in a storage device, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that test devices tested using the multi-zone temperature testing device of the present disclosure may include any devices and/or components that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the test device300includes a chassis that is provided by a circuit board302that supports the components in the test device300, only some of which are illustrated and discussed below. However, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the chassis of the test device300may be provided in other manners while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the circuit board302includes a plurality of components in different zones on the circuit board302, with a first zone304including a first components304a, a second zone306including second components306a, and a third zone308including third components308a.

In the specific examples provided herein, the first components304a, the second components306a, and the third components308aare provided by NAND storage devices, with the different zones304,306, and308on the circuit board302have different thermal characteristics. For example, the first zone304is included on a portion of the circuit board302that has dimensions that are different than the rest of the circuit board302and includes only two NAND storage devices/first components304a, the second zone306is located immediately adjacent the first zone304and includes six NAND storage devices/second components306a, and the third zone308is located immediately adjacent the second zone306, includes six NAND storage devices/third components308a, and is also located immediately adjacent a portion of the circuit board302that extends from the third zone308and includes a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) component310or other device controller known in the art.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the first zone304may have the different thermal characteristics discussed above relative to the second zone306and third zone308due to, for example, the relatively lower number of NAND storage devices/first components304a, the relatively smaller dimensions of the circuit board area in the first zone304, the relatively less dense configuration of the NAND storage devices/first components304aon the circuit board302in the first zone304, and/or based on any other thermal characteristic factors that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. Similarly, the second zone306may have the different thermal characteristics discussed above relative to the first zone304due to, for example, the relatively higher number of NAND storage devices/second components306a, the relatively denser configuration of the NAND storage devices/second components306aon the circuit board302, and/or based on any other thermal characteristic factors that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. Similarly as well, the third zone308may have the different thermal characteristics discussed above relative to the first zone304due to, for example, the relatively higher number of NAND storage devices/third components308a, the relatively denser configuration of the NAND storage devices/third components308aon the circuit board302, and/or based on any other thermal characteristic factors that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. Similarly as well, the third zone308may have the different thermal characteristics discussed above relative to the second zone306due to, for example, the portion of the circuit board302adjacent the third zone308(i.e., the portion of the circuit board302that includes the FPGA component310) operating as a cooling fin, and one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the thermal characteristics of the third zone308may differ depending on the operation (and level of operation) of the FPGA component310and any corresponding heat generation.

However, while a specific test device including a particular chassis (e.g., the circuit board302) having particular components (e.g., NAND storage devices) in different zones with particular different thermal characteristics has been described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the multi-zone temperature testing device of the present disclosure may be utilized with test devices having a variety of different types of chassis, a variety of different types of components (including different components on the chassis rather than all the same components as with the NAND devices provided in the example herein) having any of a variety of different thermal characteristics for any of a variety of different reasons. As such, while the different thermal characteristics of components on the testing device are described as resulting from particular factors and being confined to particular zones one the testing device, the multi-zone temperature testing device of the present disclosure is envisioned as providing the benefits described below for any component configuration of any components with different thermal characteristics while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

Referring now toFIG.4, an embodiment of a method400for temperature testing a device is illustrated. As discussed below, the systems and methods of the present disclosure provide for the production of different heat fluxes for different components on a test device that are associated with different thermal characteristics via the control of different thermoelectric modules in a testing device that is coupled to the test device in order to provide the different components on the testing device at a uniform temperature for testing. For example, the multi-zone temperature testing system of the present disclosure may include a test device having a plurality of components, a multi-zone temperature testing device that is coupled to the test device and that includes a first thermoelectric module that is located adjacent a first subset of the plurality of components and a second thermoelectric module that is located adjacent a second subset of the plurality of components, and a temperature control subsystem that is coupled to the multi-zone temperature testing device. The temperature control subsystem controls the first thermoelectric module in the multi-zone temperature testing device to produce a first heat flux that provides a testing temperature for the first subset of the plurality of components, and controls the second thermoelectric module in the multi-zone temperature testing device to produce a second heat flux that is different than the first heat flux and that provides the testing temperature for the second subset of the plurality of components. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, multi-zone temperature testing devices provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure allow for relatively large-scale device temperature testing, precise thermal control during temperature testing, and other benefits discussed below without the cost and complexity associated with conventional temperature testing systems.

The method400begins at block402where one or more multi-zone temperature testing devices are coupled to a test device. With reference toFIG.5A, in an embodiment of block402, one or more of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200discussed above with reference toFIGS.2A and2Bmay be coupled to the test device300discussed above with reference toFIG.3. In the specific example discussed below, a multi-zone temperature testing system500is provided that utilizes the multi-zone temperature testing device200of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the test device300including the first components304a, the second components306a, and third components308aon the circuit board302may be positioned between a pair of the multi-zone temperature testing device200discussed above with reference toFIGS.2A and2Bsuch that a first of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200engages each of the first components304a, the second components306a, and third components308aon the circuit board302, and a second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200engages the circuit board302(e.g., a “bottom” surface of the circuit board302) opposite the circuit board302from the first components304a, the second components306a, and third components308a.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the use of the two multi-zone temperature testing devices200on opposite sides of the components being temperature tested may provide for relatively faster and more uniform temperature control during that temperature testing. However, embodiments in which only a single multi-zone temperature testing device200(or more than two multi-zone temperature testing devices200) are utilized to perform temperature testing are envisioned as falling within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

As can be seenFIG.5A, the orientation of the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200is reversed relative to the orientation of the first of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200such that the bottom wall202bof the chassis202on the first of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200engages each of the first components304a, the second components306a, and third components308a, while the top wall202aof the chassis202on the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200engages the circuit board302(i.e., the multi-zone temperature testing devices200engage the “top” and “bottom” of the first components304a, the second components306a, and third components308aon the circuit board). However, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how orientations of the multi-zone temperature testing device200that are different than those illustrated inFIG.5Awill fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

As can be seen in the embodiment illustrated inFIG.5A, a pair of thermoelectric modules204in the first of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200and a pair of thermoelectric modules204in the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200are located on opposite sides of the first zone304that includes the first components304a, a pair of thermoelectric modules204in the first of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200and a pair of thermoelectric modules204in the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200are located on opposite sides of the second zone306that includes the second components306a, and a pair of thermoelectric modules204in the first of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200and a pair of thermoelectric modules204in the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200are located on opposite sides of the third zone308that includes the third components308a. However, while a specific configuration of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200and the test device300in the multi-zone temperature testing system500is illustrated inFIG.5A, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the multi-zone temperature testing system500and/or the multi-zone temperature testing devices200may be configured differently depending on the configuration, components, thermal characteristics, and/or other factors associated with the temperature testing and/or the test device being temperature tested.

In the illustrated embodiment, a heat dissipation device502is coupled to the first of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200discussed above. For example, the heat dissipation device502may be provided by heat pipes, heat spreaders, heat sinks, and/or other heat dissipation devices known in the art, and may engage the top wall202aof the chassis202on the first of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200via, for example, a thermal paste or other heat transfer material and/or coupling known in the art. Furthermore, a cooling system504is coupled to the heat dissipation device502, and may be provided by fan devices, liquid cooling systems, and/or other cooling systems that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. Similarly, a heat dissipation device506is coupled to the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200discussed above. For example, the heat dissipation device506may be provided by heat pipes, heat spreaders, heat sinks, and/or other heat dissipation devices known in the art, and may engage the top wall202aof the chassis202on the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200via, for example, a thermal paste or other heat transfer material and/or coupling known in the art. Furthermore, a cooling system508is coupled to the heat dissipation device506, and may be provided by fan devices, liquid cooling systems, and/or other cooling systems that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. While not illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the cooling system508may be positioned on a chassis, stand-offs, or other support structure to ensure sufficient airflow to the cooling system508.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the heat dissipation devices502and506and the cooling systems504and508may provide the ability to produce larger heat fluxes in the thermoelectric modules204by assisting in the transfer of heat on one side of those thermoelectric modules204. However, multi-zone temperature testing systems without one or more of the heat dissipation devices and/or cooling systems are envisioned as falling within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

In the illustrated embodiment, a temperature control subsystem510is coupled to each of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200and each of the cooling systems504and508. In an embodiment, the temperature control subsystem510may be provided by the IHS100discussed above with reference toFIG.1, and/or may include some or all of the components of the IHS100. In a specific example, the temperature control subsystem510may be included in a desktop computing device, a laptop/notebook computing device, a tablet computing device, a mobile phone, and/or any other computing device that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. In a specific example, the temperature control subsystem510is included in a temperature testing control computing device that is utilized to perform the temperature testing on the test device200, although embodiments in which the temperature control subsystem510is coupled to the temperature testing control computing device that is utilized to perform the temperature testing on the test device200will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well. In a specific example, the temperature control subsystem510may utilize Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques to control the thermoelectric modules204as discussed below and may include a Proportional Integrate Derivative (PID) controller that performs control loops based on the temperatures provided for the components on the test device300. As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the multi-zone temperature testing devices200and cooling systems504may be controlled as described below in a variety of manners that will fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

As discussed above, the multi-zone temperature testing system500and/or the test device300may vary in configuration based on a variety of factors. For example,FIG.5Billustrates an embodiment of the test device300that also includes a fourth zone512including fourth components512alocated opposite the circuit board302from the first components304ain the first zone304, a fifth zone514including fifth components514alocated opposite the circuit board302from the second components306ain the second zone306, and a sixth zone516including sixth components514alocated opposite the circuit board302from the third components308ain the third zone308. Furthermore, as can be seen inFIG.5B, the top wall202aof the chassis202on the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200engages each of the fourth components512a, the fifth components514a, and sixth components516a, with a thermoelectric module204in the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200located adjacent the fourth zone512that includes the fourth components512a, a thermoelectric module204in the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200located adjacent the fifth zone514that includes the fifth components514a, and a thermoelectric module204in the second of the multi-zone temperature testing devices200located adjacent the sixth zone516that includes the sixth components516a. As such, while the method400is described below as being performed on the test device ofFIG.3using the multi-zone temperature testing system500ofFIG.5A, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how different configurations of the multi-zone temperature testing system500and/or test device300(like that illustrated inFIG.5B) may operate similarly as discussed below while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.

The method400then proceeds to block404where a temperature control subsystem controls a first subset of thermoelectric modules in the multi-zone temperature testing device(s) to produce a first heat flux that provides a testing temperature for a first subset of components in the test device. With reference toFIG.6A, in an embodiment of block404, the temperature control subsystem510may perform temperature control operations600that include controlling the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the first zone304and the first components304ato produce a first heat flux that provides a testing temperature for the first components304a. For example, the temperature testing for the first components304aon the test device300may require an elevated temperature for some period of time, and the temperature testing control computing device that is performing the temperature testing on the test device200may provide instructions to the temperature control subsystem510that are configured to raise the temperature of those first components304ato that elevated temperature.

In an embodiment and as discussed above, at block404and in response to receiving the instruction from the temperature testing control computing device as discussed above, the temperature control subsystem510may cause a voltage to be applied to the power couplings204con the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the first zone304, which in the embodiment illustrated inFIG.6Aresults in a current in those thermoelectric modules204that produces a heat flux602in each of those thermoelectric modules204towards the first components304a. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the voltage provided to produce the heat flux602may be based on the thermal characteristics of the first zone304of the circuit board302that includes those first components304a, and thus may be selected to produce a testing temperature in the first components304athat is desired/required by the temperature test being performed on the test device300. In the examples discussed below, the heat flux602produced at block404is a relatively intermediate heat flux (as illustrated by the intermediate weight arrow elements602relative to the other heat fluxes produced by the multi-zone temperature testing devices200discussed in further detail below) that may be required to produce the testing temperature for the first components304adue to the thermal characteristics of the first zone304(e.g., due to the first zone304including fewer components that the second zone306and third zone308, and a portion of the circuit board302that operates to help cool the first components304a).

As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the first components304a, the first zone304of the circuit board302, and/or the circuit board302may be characterized (e.g., via modeling, experimentation, and/or other techniques that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure) by a user of the multi-zone temperature testing system500in order to identify different temperatures that are produced in the first components304avia different heat fluxes generated by the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the first zone304so that, for any desired testing temperature, the corresponding heat flux required to produce that testing temperature in the first components304amay be identified and produced by the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the first zone304. However, while a specific example of the generation of heat fluxes to produce a testing temperature for components in a test device has been described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the thermoelectric modules204in the testing device200may be controlled to generate heat flux(es) that produce a testing temperature for component(s) in a variety of manners that will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

The method400then proceeds to block406where the temperature control subsystem controls at least one other subset of thermoelectric modules in the multi-zone temperature testing device(s) to produce at least one other heat flux that provides the testing temperature for at least one other subset of components in the test device. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure, while illustrated as separate blocks of the method400, blocks404and406may be performed at the same time or in a different order than illustrated inFIG.4while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, with continued reference toFIG.6Aand in an embodiment of block406, the temperature control operations600performed by the temperature control subsystem510may include controlling the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the second zone306and the second components306ato produce a second heat flux that provides the testing temperature for the second components306a. Continuing with the example provided above, the temperature testing for the second components306aon the test device300may require an elevated temperature for some period of time, and the temperature testing control computing device that is performing the temperature testing on the test device200may provide instructions to the temperature control subsystem510that are configured to raise the temperature of those second components306ato that elevated temperature.

Similarly as discussed above, at block406and in response to receiving the instruction from the temperature testing control computing device as discussed above, the temperature control subsystem510may cause a voltage to be applied to the power couplings204con the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the second zone306, which in the embodiment illustrated inFIG.6Aresults in a current in those thermoelectric modules204that produces a heat flux604in each of those thermoelectric modules204towards the second components306a. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the voltage provided to produce the heat flux604may be based on the thermal characteristics of the second zone306of the circuit board302that includes those second components306a, and thus may be selected to produce a testing temperature in the second components306athat is desired/required by the temperature test being performed on the test device300. In the examples discussed below, the heat flux604produced at block406is a relatively low heat flux (as illustrated by the low weight arrow elements604relative to the other heat fluxes produced by the multi-zone temperature testing devices200discussed above and in further detail below) that may be required to produce the testing temperature for the second components306adue to the thermal characteristics of the second zone306(e.g., due to the second zone306including a relatively high number of components and relatively less surface area of the circuit board302).

As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the second components306a, the second zone306of the circuit board302, and/or the circuit board302may be characterized (e.g., via modeling, experimentation, and/or other techniques that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure) by a user of the multi-zone temperature testing system500in order to identify different temperatures that are produced in the second components306avia different heat fluxes generated by the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the second zone306so that, for any desired testing temperature, the corresponding heat flux required to produce that testing temperature in the second components306amay be identified and produced by the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the second zone306. However, while a specific example of the generation of heat fluxes to produce a testing temperature for components in a test device has been described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the thermoelectric modules204in the testing device200may be controlled to generate heat flux(es) that produce a testing temperature for component(s) in a variety of manners that will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

In another example, with continued reference toFIG.6Aand in an embodiment of block406, the temperature control operations600performed by the temperature control subsystem510may include controlling the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the third zone308and the third components308ato produce a third heat flux that provides the testing temperature for the third components308a. Continuing with the example provided above, the temperature testing for the third components308aon the test device300may require an elevated temperature for some period of time, and the temperature testing control computing device that is performing the temperature testing on the test device200may provide instructions to the temperature control subsystem510that are configured to raise the temperature of those third components308ato that elevated temperature.

Similarly as discussed above, at block406and in response to receiving the instruction from the temperature testing control computing device as discussed above, the temperature control subsystem510may cause a voltage to be applied to the power couplings204con the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the third zone308, which in the embodiment illustrated inFIG.6Aresults in a current in those thermoelectric modules204that produces a heat flux606in each of those thermoelectric modules204towards the third components308a. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the voltage provided to produce the heat flux606may be based on the thermal characteristics of the third zone308of the circuit board302that includes those third components308a, and thus may be selected to produce a testing temperature in the third components308athat is desired/required by the temperature test being performed on the test device300. In the examples discussed below, the heat flux606produced at block406is a relatively high heat flux (as illustrated by the high weight arrow elements606relative to the other heat fluxes produced by the multi-zone temperature testing devices200discussed above) that may be required to produce the testing temperature for the third components308adue to the thermal characteristics of the third zone308(e.g., due to the third zone308being located immediately adjacent a relatively large surface area of the circuit board302that operates to help cool the third components308a, particularly when the FPGA component310is not operating).

As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the third components308a, the third zone308of the circuit board302, and/or the circuit board302may be characterized (e.g., via modeling, experimentation, and/or other techniques that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure) by a user of the multi-zone temperature testing system500in order to identify different temperatures that are produced in the third components308avia different heat fluxes generated by the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the third zone308so that, for any desired testing temperature, the corresponding heat flux required to produce that testing temperature in the third components308amay be identified and produced by the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the third zone308. However, while a specific example of the generation of heat fluxes to produce a testing temperature for components in a test device has been described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the thermoelectric modules204in the testing device200may be controlled to generate heat flux(es) that produce a testing temperature for component(s) in a variety of manners that will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

With continued reference toFIG.6A, in an embodiment of blocks404and/or406, the temperature control subsystem510may perform cooling system activation operations608that include activating the cooling systems504and/or508in order to transfer heat from the multi-zone temperature testing devices200and assist in the generation of the heat fluxes602,604, and/or606. As discussed above and as will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the heat dissipation device502is configured to dissipate heat from the multi-zone temperature testing device200that engages it, while the operation of the cooling system504will increase the dissipation of the heat from the heat dissipation device502, and thus the activation of the cooling system504may allow any of the thermoelectric modules204in the multi-zone temperature testing device200that engages the heat dissipation device502to produce the heat fluxes602,604, and/or606(e.g., by providing a “boost” to the heat flux).

Similarly, the heat dissipation device506is configured to dissipate heat from the multi-zone temperature testing device200that engages it, while the operation of the cooling system508will increase the dissipation of the heat from the heat dissipation device506, and thus the activation of the cooling system508may allow any of the thermoelectric modules204in the multi-zone temperature testing device200that engages the heat dissipation device506to produce the heat fluxes602,604, and/or606(e.g., by providing a “boost” to the heat flux). Furthermore, while the cooling systems504and508are described as being activated to provide a “boost” to the heat flux provided by the multi-zone temperature testing devices200, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the cooling systems504and508may already be operating when the heat flux is provided by the multi-zone temperature testing devices200, and then may have their operation increased to provide the “boost” to that heat flux while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

As such, blocks404and406may be performed to generate different heat fluxes602,604, and606to the first components304a, the second components306a, and the third components308a, respectively, in the first zone304, the second zone306, and the third zone308, respectively, in order to provide a testing temperature for each of the first components304a, the second components306a, and the third components308a. To provide a specific example, the testing temperature may be 85 C, and thus the heat fluxes602,604, and606may be generated to provide each of the first components304a, the second components306a, and the third components308aat 85 C. However, while the multi-zone temperature testing devices200are described as producing different heat fluxes to provide a common/uniform elevated temperature for each of the first components304a, the second components306a, and the third components308a, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the multi-zone temperature testing device200may be utilized to provide different components on a test device300at different temperatures while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

With reference toFIG.6B, in another embodiment of block404, the temperature control subsystem510may perform temperature control operations610that include controlling the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the first zone304and the first components304ato produce a first heat flux that provides a testing temperature for the first components304a. For example, the temperature testing for the first components304aon the test device300may require a reduced temperature for some period of time, and the temperature testing control computing device that is performing the temperature testing on the test device200may provide instructions to the temperature control subsystem510that are configured to reduce the temperature of those first components304ato that reduced temperature.

In an embodiment and as discussed above, at block404and in response to receiving the instruction from the temperature testing control computing device as discussed above, the temperature control subsystem510may cause a voltage to be applied to the power couplings204con the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the first zone304, which in the embodiment illustrated inFIG.6Bresults in a current in those thermoelectric modules204that produces a heat flux612in each of those thermoelectric modules204away from the first components304a. In the examples discussed below, the heat flux602produced at block404is a relatively intermediate heat flux (as illustrated by the intermediate weight arrow elements612relative to the other heat fluxes produced by the multi-zone temperature testing devices200discussed in further detail below) that may be required to produce the testing temperature for the first components304adue to the thermal characteristics of the first zone304(e.g., due to the first zone304including fewer components that the second zone306and third zone308, and a portion of the circuit board302that operates to help cool the first components304a).

The method400then proceeds to block406where the temperature control subsystem controls at least one other subset of thermoelectric modules in the multi-zone temperature testing device(s) to produce at least one other heat flux that provides the testing temperature for at least one other subset of components in the test device. With continued reference toFIG.6Band in an embodiment of block406, the temperature control operations600performed by the temperature control subsystem510may include controlling the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the second zone306and the second components306ato produce a second heat flux that provides the testing temperature for the second components306a. Continuing with the example provided above, the temperature testing for the second components306aon the test device300may require a reduced temperature for some period of time, and the temperature testing control computing device that is performing the temperature testing on the test device200may provide instructions to the temperature control subsystem510that are configured to reduce the temperature of those second components306ato that reduced temperature.

Similarly as discussed above, at block406and in response to receiving the instruction from the temperature testing control computing device as discussed above, the temperature control subsystem510may cause a voltage to be applied to the power couplings204con the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the second zone306, which in the embodiment illustrated inFIG.6Bresults in a current in those thermoelectric modules204that produces a heat flux614in each of those thermoelectric modules204away from the second components306a. In the examples discussed below, the heat flux604produced at block406is a relatively low heat flux (as illustrated by the low weight arrow elements604relative to the other heat fluxes produced by the multi-zone temperature testing devices200discussed above and in further detail below) that may be required to produce the testing temperature for the second components306adue to the thermal characteristics of the second zone306(e.g., due to the second zone306including a relatively high number of components and relatively less surface area of the circuit board302).

In another example, with continued reference toFIG.6Band in an embodiment of block406, the temperature control operations600performed by the temperature control subsystem510may include controlling the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the third zone308and the third components308ato produce a third heat flux that provides the testing temperature for the third components308a. Continuing with the example provided above, the temperature testing for the third components308aon the test device300may require a reduced temperature for some period of time, and the temperature testing control computing device that is performing the temperature testing on the test device200may provide instructions to the temperature control subsystem510that are configured to reduce the temperature of those third components308ato that reduced temperature.

Similarly as discussed above, at block406and in response to receiving the instruction from the temperature testing control computing device as discussed above, the temperature control subsystem510may cause a voltage to be applied to the power couplings204con the thermoelectric modules204in the first and second multi-zone temperature testing devices200that are located on opposite sides of the third zone308, which in the embodiment illustrated inFIG.6Bresults in a current in those thermoelectric modules204that produces a heat flux616in each of those thermoelectric modules204away from the third components308a. In the examples discussed below, the heat flux616produced at block406is a relatively high heat flux (as illustrated by the high weight arrow elements606relative to the other heat fluxes produced by the multi-zone temperature testing devices200discussed above) that may be required to produce the testing temperature for the third components308adue to the thermal characteristics of the third zone308(e.g., due to the third zone308being located immediately adjacent a relatively large surface area of the circuit board302that operates to help cool the third components308a).

As such, blocks404and406may be performed to generate different heat fluxes612,614, and616to the first components304a, the second components306a, and the third components308a, respectively, in the first zone304, the second zone306, and the third zone308, respectively, in order to provide a testing temperature for each of the first components304a, the second components306a, and the third components308a. To provide a specific example, the testing temperature may be 20 C, and thus the heat fluxes612,614, and616may be provided to provide each of the first components304a, the second components306a, and the third components308aat 20 C. However, while the multi-zone temperature testing devices200are described as producing different heat fluxes to provide a common/uniform reduced temperature for each of the first components304a, the second components306a, and the third components308a, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the multi-zone temperature testing device200may be utilized to provide different components on a test device300at different temperatures while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

With continued reference toFIG.6B, in an embodiment of blocks404and/or406, the temperature control subsystem510may perform cooling system activation operations618that include activating the cooling systems504and/or508in order to transfer heat from the multi-zone temperature testing devices200and assist in the generation of the heat fluxes612,614, and/or616. Similarly discussed above and as will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the heat dissipation device502is configured to dissipate heat from the multi-zone temperature testing device200that engages it, while the operation of the cooling system504will increase the dissipation of the heat from the heat dissipation device502, and thus the activation of the cooling system502may allow any of the thermoelectric modules204in the multi-zone temperature testing device200that engages the heat dissipation device502to produce the heat fluxes612,614, and/or616. Similarly, the heat dissipation device506is configured to dissipate heat from the multi-zone temperature testing device200that engages it, while the operation of the cooling system508will increase the dissipation of the heat from the heat dissipation device506, and thus the activation of the cooling system508may allow any of the thermoelectric modules204in the multi-zone temperature testing device200that engages the heat dissipation device506to produce the heat fluxes612,614, and/or616.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, while the examples discussed above with reference toFIGS.6A and6Billustrate and describe providing the same direction of heat flux (e.g., either heating or cooling) each of the first components304a, the second components306a, and the third components308a, the multi-zone temperature testing devices200may be operated to provide different directions of heat flux to the first components304a, the second components306a, and/or the third components308a(i.e., to heat some of the first components304a, the second components306a, and/or the third components308a, and cool the others of the first components304a, the second components306a, and/or the third components308a).

The method400may then proceed to optional block408where the temperature control subsystem controls subset(s) of thermoelectric module(s) in the multi-zone temperature testing device(s) to produce a rapid temperature change in at least one subset of components in the test device. In an embodiment, at block408, the temperature testing of the test device300may require a rapid temperature change for any of the first components304a, the second components306a, and/or the third components308a. For example, the temperature testing may call for elevating the temperature of NAND storage devices that provide any of the first components304a, the second components306a, and/or the third components308ato 85 C in order to perform program/write operations on those NAND storage devices at that elevated temperature, and then rapidly decreasing the temperature of those NAND storage devices to 20 C, which one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate will allow the programming/writing of data to the NAND storage devices to be tested, while attempting to minimize the data aging effects associated with maintaining the elevated temperature of the NAND storage devices for any extended period of time.

As such, optional block408may include providing the first components304a, the second components306a, and/or the third components308aat the elevated temperature similarly as illustrated and discussed with reference toFIG.6A, writing data to the first components304a, the second components306a, and/or the third components308a, and then immediately reducing the temperature of the first components304a, the second components306a, and/or the third components308asimilarly as illustrated and discussed with reference toFIG.6B. In experimental embodiments of the multi-zone temperature testing devices of the present disclosure, relatively rapid temperature changes in test devices were observed. For example, with reference toFIG.7, and experimental embodiment700was performed in which the test device was elevated to a temperature of approximately 85 C and, at approximately 620 seconds into the testing, a rapid temperature reduction was performed in which the temperature of the test device was reduced to approximately 25 C at approximately 800 seconds into the testing, thus providing an approximately 60 C reduction in temperature over approximately 180 seconds after which a steady state temperature was achieved. In another example, with reference toFIG.8, an experimental embodiment800was performed in which the test device was rapidly elevated from a temperature of approximately 25 C to a temperature of approximately 90 C over approximately 200 seconds, followed by a rapid temperature reduction in which the temperature of the test device was reduced to approximately 20 C over approximately 60 seconds, and then followed by another rapid temperature elevation up to approximately 85 C over approximately 60 seconds.

Furthermore, the inventors of the present disclosure have discovered that the thermoelectric modules utilized in the multi-zone temperature testing devices of the present disclosure provide particular temperature change advantages when the voltage to a thermoelectric module is reversed (e.g., to switch the operation of the thermoelectric module from transferring heat to a test device to transferring heat from a test device). For example, the cooling power Q c of a thermoelectric module is governed by the following equation:
Qc=(S*Tc*I)−(½*I2*R)−(K*ΔT)
Where S is the Seebeck coefficient and is a function of the density of states of materials in the thermoelectric module, Tc is the cold temperature of the thermoelectric module, I is the current produced in the thermoelectric module, R is the resistance of the thermoelectric module, K is thermal conductance of the thermoelectric module, and ΔT is the difference between the hot temperature and the cold temperature of the thermoelectric module. As such, as ΔT increases, the amount of heat pumped through the thermoelectric module reduces.

However, the inventors of the present disclosure have discovered that, in a relatively short duration following a reversal of the voltage polarity to the power couplings of the thermoelectric module, ΔT becomes a negative value, and until the hot temperature and the cold temperature of the thermoelectric module reverse as well, the opposite temperature bias operates to increase the amount of heat pumped through the thermoelectric module, thus “boosting” the rapid temperature changes provided at optional block408.

Thus, systems and methods have been described that provide for the production of different heat fluxes for different components on a test device that are associated with different thermal characteristics via the control of different thermoelectric modules in a testing device that is coupled to the test device in order to provide the different components on the testing device at a uniform temperature for testing. For example, the multi-zone temperature testing system of the present disclosure may include a test device having a plurality of components, a multi-zone temperature testing device that is coupled to the test device and that includes a first thermoelectric module that is located adjacent a first subset of the plurality of components and a second thermoelectric module that is located adjacent a second subset of the plurality of components, and a temperature control subsystem that is coupled to the multi-zone temperature testing device. The temperature control subsystem controls the first thermoelectric module in the multi-zone temperature testing device to produce a first heat flux that provides a testing temperature for the first subset of the plurality of components, and controls the second thermoelectric module in the multi-zone temperature testing device to produce a second heat flux that is different than the first heat flux and that provides the testing temperature for the second subset of the plurality of components. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, multi-zone temperature testing devices provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure allow for relatively large-scale device temperature testing, precise thermal control during temperature testing, and other benefits discussed below without the cost and complexity associated with conventional temperature testing systems.

Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.