From space to automotive applications, electronics needs to operate in a wider range of thermal environments. Since device parameters such as mobility and intrinsic carrier concentration depend on temperature, circuit designers need to be aware of the precise thermal operating conditions, to ensure that performance variations are within acceptable limits. Furthermore, certain applications may demand active temperature control. Circuits designed for cryogenic ambient temperature operation are sometimes externally heated, while the self-heating problems of processors with high device density and operating frequencies may require cooling. Along with the temperature-dependent device behavior, this also requires detailed understanding of heat generation and dissipation in integrated circuits.
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