IC Thermal Output

[Stiganator]

I'm looking at a TI-MSP430 Microcontroller, but I can't find any thermal output data in the specs.

I was wondering if anyone might be able to give me a ball park answer of how hot this might get. This is all theoretical for a design that will be implanted in the skull.

The chip will only be active for 1 minute every 5 mins and will be pretty low load, just some simple EEG processing.

http://focus.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/msp430f1491.pdf

 

[bobsmith1492]

It's on the first page: running at 1MHz, 2.2V it draws 280uA. 2.2V x 280uA = 616uW. That's not much power so it won't get hot at all (depending, of course, on how it is, um, installed in someone's skull... that one unsettles me a bit )

 

[PottedMeat]

Yeah, its gonna be miniscule, especially with a MSP430. 616uW for 1 minute followed by 4 minutes at standby at ~3.52uW ( Just from the first page of the datasheet like bobsmith, not assuming any of the power saving modes). Don't forget power consumption by glue logic/opamp filters/etc.

 

[Stiganator]

I wasn't sure if I could just do something simple like that, I figured ICs had other things to take into account.

 

[bobsmith1492]

There is a lot taken into account to get that number; that's why you just about have to trust the manufacturer's specs unless you want to measure it yourself.