recognizing the importance of determining where pcb hotspots lie and what is causing them, schindler & schill gmbh has released an extension to its easylogix pcb-investigator, a cad/cam software program, that will bring thermal simulation to the early stages of the design process.

the pcb-investigator physics tool (pcbi physics) is designed to display heat build-up in future products at a very early stage of development and to target thermal solutions. the software demonstrates the solution at the press of a button, saving the time and cost of bringing in an expert.

(wikimedia commons)

the easylogix software reads layout data in a variety of forms, including odb++, dxf, gencad 1.4, gerber 274x, and more. the software gives information on all layers and data objects from conducting paths and surfaces to components such as pins, networks and copper elements.

research by schindler & schill has demonstrated that its software simulations differ from infrared thermographs by plus or minus 10 percent or less. pcbi physics adds to data collection by detecting hotspots on internal layers and temperature increases caused by dissipation from components.

the software, which provides 3-d simulations, then develops a plan of action and offers thermal solutions to remove the hotspots and increase heat dissipation on the pcb and throughout the system.

according to a press release from schindler & schill, “thermal hotspots, critical line resistances, and excessive voltage drops can be geometrically pinpointed with great accuracy. as a result, the user obtains thermal images (typically as precise as the thickness of a 0.2-mm pencil lead or better) for each copper and prepreg level, as well as detailed maps of current densities, potentials, voltage drops, temperature-dependent material properties, and local heat output.”

in addition to showing hotspots in a design, pcbi physics also gives details on possible solutions for meeting temperature specifications, such as using thinner copper, fewer layers, or without heat sinks. this could provide additional savings in terms of space on the pcb and costs for the company.

to learn more about pcbi physics and its features, visit http://www.pcb-investigator.com.