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December 2007

Your intelligence brief on infrared thermography

Volume 8, Issue 12

 

In This Issue:

Welcome

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Happy Holidays {{user("firstname")}},

The holiday season is just around the corner and we are closing this year with a case history that we don't hear too much about, and that is electronic quality control and troubleshooting using thermography. We have a story by an experienced thermographer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory showing how he uses IR to inspect electronics that go literally "out of this world".

As usual we have our Message board posts, News items, and our monthly Brainteaser for you to solve.

As with all images in this newsletter, click an image to see a larger version.

Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year. We'll see you again next year,

Gary Orlove,
Editor and Publisher

 

Application Brief: Microelectronic Device - ESD Failure

by Ronald Ruiz
Reliability and Failure Analysis Group
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena, CA

Here is a case history of a failed ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) that is of interest to us here in the Failure Analysis Lab at JPL. Much of what we design and build here goes into outer space as part of an autonomous spacecraft. Therefore, interest in the reliability of electronic components are what we mainly focus on here in Pasadena California. The infrared camera (ThermaCAM PM390) and real-time image subtract software, has been extremely useful to our work to quickly identify thermal radiative signatures from ROI (regions of interest) as small as 15 micrometers, this is one of those examples.

The ASIC was tested with a ThermaCAM PM390 with a microscope lens, 1cm from the target in image subtract mode. The ASIC power level was set at 80 mw, and the emissivity was set at 0.75 for the measurements.


IR thermogram of the ASIC under power.
The short is indicated by the arrow.


Visible photo of the ASIC. The location
of the short is indicated by the arrow.

Analysis
A microelectronic device, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) for use in a spacecraft communication module, failed after being pulsed with an electrostatic discharge. The location of failure depicts the weakest point where insulating oxide breaks down and causes a short between electrical conductors. The arrow points to the shorted area displaying a 5.6 C rise above the rest of the circuit.

Recommendation
Devices that are fabricated on silicon in a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fashion are very susceptible to ESD events. Because of this, they should be handled with care by using ESD precautions when transferred between assembly facilities.

Ron earns 8 certification renewal credits for his application brief.

 

  IR News you can Use

Straight from the World Wide Web, here is what's going on in the world of infrared thermography.

technology

  • Investigators search for Big Foot in Battens community
    The Enterprise Ledger, AL - December 5, 2007
    Six infrared cameras and night-vision video equipment are used in a search, along with thermal imaging cameras and train-trip cameras. ...

  • Venus: Earth’s twin planet?
    PhysOrg.com, VA - Nov 29, 2007
    This beautiful set of infrared images of the south polar vortex at Venus was obtained by the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) on ...


     

  • Cars make some night-vision progress
    CNET Crave Blog - Nov 27, 2007
    ... which specializes in infrared photography, has taken a step toward that goal with a deal to install its "PathFindIR" thermal imaging technology in BMWs, ...

     

  • Tiger Team set up to find root cause of RCC concern
    NASASpaceflight.com, UK - Nov 19, 2007
    Called Flash Thermography, the results produced anomalous readings near the junction between panels along the edge of the T-seal. The panel was not damaged, ...

Medicine/veterinary

Buildings/energy/infrastructure

  • Weatherization helps families stabilize energy costs
    Auburn Citizen, NY - Nov 26, 2007
    The agency's auditors conduct a series of diagnostic tests using state of the art equipment such as a blower door, infrared camera, monometer and combustion ...

  • Energy audits can help pinpoint places to save
    The Patriot-News - PennLive.com, PA - Nov 24, 2007
    He also has an infrared camera to spot problems behind walls. If the Web audit shows you are in pretty good shape, it might not be worth the money to hire a ...

  • Bill is ‘red-hot’ »»
    The Independent Online, Canada - Nov 14, 2007
    Nearly 600 thermo-imaging professionals – a record number – attended this year’s event, giving infrared camera users, or thermographers, an opportunity to ...


     

  • Go Green with thermal imaging
    KVBC, NV - Nov 5, 2007
    Those gaps show up as dark spots on Peter's $40000 thermal imaging camera. Peter finds trouble spots in just about every room. "This is a situation where we ...

condition monitoring

  • Tracking ‘fugitives’
    Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, LA - Nov 20, 2007
    The camera’s international manufacturer, FLIR Systems, specializes in thermal imaging in everything from airborne observation to drug interdiction to ...


     

  • What to Do When Your Oil Analysis Results Go South
    Practicing Oil Analysis Magazine, OK - Nov 7, 2007
    Take immediate corrective action, like filtration, vibration or thermography before performing another lab analysis. If an environmental or mechanical ...

 

 ITC Message Board Posts

Here is a selection of recent new threads by IR Community members. Feel free to click the links, see the responses, and post your own response if you like.

  • Switchgear - arc flash image
    High speed IR. note: Solids, preasure wave and flame.




     

  • Electrical Heat Tolerances
    Does anyone know which referenced publication that I could refer to in order to identify what maximum temperatures are allowable in electrical switch and receptacle boxes for residential applications.

And of course if YOU have a question or want to start a discussion on a topic, we would love to hear from you. Just post a new thread on a message board.

 

Brainteaser of the Month 

Here is this month's brainteaser. Readers who email us a correct identification or explanation are entered into a drawing to win a prize. Please put "Brainteaser" as the subject of the message.

Click here to email your guess

Do you have an interesting image that you think would challenge other thermographers? If so please email me your image (preferably in native .img, .jpg, .tif, .tgw, or .tmw format) with an accompanying visible photo and explanation. If your image is used, you receive a gift as well.

 

Last Month's Brainteaser

It's a mouse! Not the rodent kind but the computer species. We had 45 guesses and only 6 correct answers from our readers. Congratulations to Larry Stanos from S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. in Bay City, MI, our winner this month, and to Roy Gariepy from Dorlastan LLC in Goose Creek, SC for submitting the thermogram. They both get the ITC low e coffee mug.

 

Course Calendars 

Click the links below to see our latest course schedules (in local language).

 

About the Infrared Training Center 

The Infrared Training Center offers training and certification in all aspects of infrared thermography use. Our world-class training headquarters are located near Boston, Massachusetts, USA and Stockholm, Sweden and have the world's most extensive hands on laboratories for infrared applications. In addition, we have training centers around the world. Please join us in exploring the fascinating world of the infrared!

Your comments and suggestions about this newsletter are welcomed and encouraged. If you have an interesting application or case study to share, we encourage you to submit it for publication. Published articles earn credit towards IR recertification.

Please e-mail Gary Orlove or send regular mail to the Americas office.

Visit our website:


ITC Americas, BOSTON

25 Esquire Road
N. Billerica, MA 01862, USA

Tel: +1-978-901-8405
Toll free: +1-866-TRAINIR
                 (866-872-4647)
Fax: +1.978-901-8832
E-mail: mailto:info_us@infraredtraining.com


ITC Eurasia, SWEDEN

Rinkebyvägen 19
SE-182 11 Danderyd, Sweden

Tel: +46 (0) 8 753 25 00
Fax: +46 (0) 8 753 26 01
E-mail: mailto:itc@flir.se

 

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