RadarDaily Home Page  
Improvements In Thermal Management Of Future Electronics

"The U.S. military's future need for high-power electronics cannot be overestimated, yet the ability to control thermal loads generated in electronic systems has remained a formidable hurdle to that development," said Dr. Larry Greenberg, Northrop Grumman program manager.
by Staff Writers
Linthicum MD (SPX) Aug 05, 2008
Northrop Grumman has been selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop and demonstrate an ultra high capacity hybrid thermal ground plane needed to overcome heat-related challenges in semiconductors employed in electronic systems.

High thermal temperatures are a key barrier in the development of next-generation military electronics, such as high-power radars, electromagnetic weapons and all-electric aircraft.

Under the initial 18-month contract, Northrop Grumman will use improved materials and techniques to transfer excess heat away from semiconductors where the heat is generated.

Specifically, the team will develop and test the feasibility of replacing solid metallic heat spreaders with an advanced passively-driven, internally liquid cooled, silicon carbide-based thermal ground plane.

"The U.S. military's future need for high-power electronics cannot be overestimated, yet the ability to control thermal loads generated in electronic systems has remained a formidable hurdle to that development," said Dr. Larry Greenberg, Northrop Grumman program manager.

"Northrop Grumman's solution will leverage a number of innovative technologies developed by our team, as well as employ our extensive experience in silicon carbide processing and etching.

"Our technical approach will produce a flexible thermal ground plane with significantly improved thermal conductivity and cooling compared to conventional copper-based heat spreaders, ultimately supporting the development of a new generation of high-performance electronic devices."

The $1.7 million, 18 month, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is for the first phase of the three-phase DARPA program. The total value of the effort, if all phases of the development program are completed, could be up to $5.2 million over three and a half years.

Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector is leading the effort. The company's teammates include the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta; and Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


USAF Awards Raytheon Paveway II Laser Guided Bomb Contract
Tucson AZ (SPX) Aug 05, 2008
Raytheon was awarded a $31.6 million U.S. Air Force competitive contract for Paveway II laser guided bomb components for fiscal year 2008.







  • Obama Promises A Better NASA
  • A Brief History Of Solar Sails
  • NASA, USDA sign space research pact
  • Top US astronaut welcomes space tourism

  • NASA extends 'successful' Phoenix lander mission
  • Mission Extended As Phoenix Confirms Martian Water
  • Mars Express Acquires Sharpest Images Of Martian Moon Phobos
  • Phoenix Lander Working With Sticky Soil

  • Superbird 7 Is Readied For Ariane 5's August Mission
  • Rockot To Launch European GOCE Satellite September 10
  • IBEX Satellite Ready For Integration With Pegasus Launch Vehicle
  • Arianespace Ready For Fifth Ariane 5 Launch Campaign

  • ESA Meets Increasing Demand For Earth Observation Data
  • Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2 Begins Mapping Oceans
  • Space Technology Offers Surprising Solution To Oil Spills
  • Thales Alenia Space Selects By e2v Sensore For Sentinel 3

  • New Horizons Long Journey Into The Abyss Continues
  • IAU0806: Fourth Dwarf Planet Named Makemake
  • Makemake -- or Easter bunny -- enters book of space names
  • 30 Years Since Charon Reveals Pluto To Be A Binary Planet System

  • The First Stars
  • W.M. Keck Foundation Awards Grant For Astrochemistry Research
  • Direct Evidence Of Dark Energy In Supervoids And Superclusters
  • Caltech Astronomers Describe The Bar Scene At Beginning Of Universe

  • NASA Awards Contracts For Concepts Of Lunar Surface Systems
  • NASA Tests Moon Imaging Spacecraft
  • NASA Hosts International Meeting For Lunar Science Discussions
  • NASA Lunar Science Institute Names First International Partner

  • The Glen Club Now Sports ProLink's ProStar GPS
  • Clear Channel Real-Time Traffic Provider Of Choice
  • Royal Mail Selects Intermec CN3 Mobile Computer To Improve Services
  • Garmin Reports Record Second Quarter Revenues

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement