Kontron SMARC-sXBTi User Manual
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SMARC-sXBTi / Product Specification
3.11
Thermal Management, Heatspreader and Cooling Solutions
A heatspreader plate assembly is available from Kontron Europe GmbH for the SMARC-sXBTi. The heatspreader plate on top
of this assembly is NOT a heat sink. It works as a SMARC-standard thermal interface to use with a heat sink or external
cooling devices.
External cooling must be provided to maintain the heatspreader plate at proper operating temperatures. Under worst-
case conditions, the cooling mechanism must maintain an ambient air and heatspreader plate temperature on any spot of
the heatspreader's surface according the module specifications:
» 60°C for commercial grade modules
» 75°C for extended temperature grade modules (E1)
» 85°C for industrial temperature grade modules (E2/XT)
The aluminum slugs and thermal pads or the heat-pipe on the underside of the heatspreader assembly implement thermal
interfaces between the heatspreader plate and the major heat-generating components on the SMARC-sXBTi. About 80
percent of the power dissipated within the module is conducted to the heatspreader plate and can be removed by the
cooling solution.
You can use many thermal-management solutions with the heatspreader plates, including active and passive approaches.
The optimum cooling solution varies, depending on the SMARC application and environmental conditions. Active or
passive cooling solutions provided from Kontron Europe GmbH for the SMARC-sXBTi are usually designed to cover the
power and thermal dissipation for a commercial grade temperature range used in a housing with proper air flow.
Documentation and CAD drawings of SMARC-sXBTi heatspreader and cooling solutions are provided at
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