Patent ID: 8549462

Claim:
A computer-executed method of representing thermal coupling effects in a semiconductor structure, the semiconductor structure including at least a first device selectively operable as a heater and as a sensor, and at least a second device selectively operable as a heat sensor and as a heater, the computer-executed method, when executed by a computing device, causing the computing device to perform a method comprising: operating the first device as a heater; operating the second device as a heat sensor; measuring a first thermal response of the first device to operating the first device as a heater; measuring a first thermal response of the second device to operating the first device as a heater; determining, with the computing device, at least one first thermal coupling coefficient using the measured first thermal response of the first device and the measured first thermal response of the second device; switching operation of the first device to operation as a heat sensor; switching operation of the second device to operation as a heater; measuring a second thermal response of the second device to operating the second device as a heater; measuring a second thermal response of the first device to operating the second device as a heater; determining at least one second thermal coupling coefficient using the measured second thermal response of the first device and the measured second thermal response of the second device; and modifying the semiconductor structure using at least one of the effective thermal impedance of the first device or the at least one thermal coupling coefficient.