Electronic device

摘要

An electronic device includes a heat source, a heat-absorbing cold point, a thermally insulating material for insulating the heat source from the cold point with a conductivity at a use-temperature of electronic device, that is below a thermal-conductivity threshold, and a thermal bridge having first and second ends connected by pads to the heat source and the cold point, and a thermal switch. The thermal bridge extends between the two ends and switches reversibly between conductive and non-conductive states. It includes material of variable thermal conductivity capable of switching over, in response to an addition of energy, between a conductive phase and a resistive phase, and a control module for causing the thermal switch to switch between the conductive state and the resistive state.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising an electronic device, said electronic device comprising:
a heat-generating heat source; a cold point capable of absorbing heat; a thermally insulating material for insulating said heat source from said cold point, said thermally insulating material having a thermal conductivity at a use-temperature of said electronic device, said thermal conductivity being below a thermal-conductivity threshold; a thermal bridge, comprising a first end, which is connected to said heat source by an end pad, a second end, which is connected to said cold point by an end pad, and a thermal switch; said thermal bridge extending between said first end and said second end, wherein said thermal switch is capable of switching reversibly between a conductive state, in which a thermal conductivity at said use-temperature takes a first value above said thermal-conductivity threshold to thermally connect said end pads of said thermal bridge to each other, and a resistive state, in which said thermal conductivity at said use-temperature takes a second value below said first value to thermally insulate said two end pads of said thermal bridge from each other; said thermal switch comprising a material of variable thermal conductivity capable of switching over, in response to an addition of energy, between a conductive phase, in which a thermal conductivity of said material at said use-temperature attains said first value to thermally connect said end pads of said thermal bridge when said thermal switch is in said conductive state, and a resistive phase, in which said thermal conductivity of said material at said use-temperature attains said second value to thermally insulate said end pads of said thermal bridge from each other when said thermal switch is in said resistive state; and a control module for causing said thermal switch to switch between said conductive state and said resistive state.