The Data Dilemma In Semiconductor Testing And Why It Matters: Part 2


In Part 1, we explored the challenges of implementing machine learning and real-time analytics in semiconductor testing—chiefly, the difficulty of transferring device test data across multiple locations and organizations. In this post, we introduce Data Feed Forward (DFF) as it applies to ACS Advantest. What is ACS DFF? ACS DFF is a cloud-enabled solution designed to simplify, secure... » read more

Scaling GenAI Training And Inference Chips With Runtime Monitoring


GenAI’s rapid growth is pushing the limits of semiconductor technology, demanding breakthroughs in performance, power efficiency, and reliability. Training and inference workloads for models like GPT-4 and GPT-5 require massive computational resources, leading to skyrocketing costs, energy consumption, and hardware failures. Traditional optimization methods, such as static guard bands and per... » read more

Using High-Quality Deterministic Patterns For In-System/In-Field Testing


Logic BIST (LBIST) is a well-stablished traditional solution for meeting automotive testing standards. However, using pseudo-random LBIST patterns can be challenging when trying to achieve high-quality testing due to the increased complexity of designs. The growing amount of electronic content, along with the shift toward fully autonomous vehicles, demands stringent testing requirements. In-... » read more

Detecting Slips, Scratches, Cracks In Wafers And Dies Becoming Harder


Defect detection requirements on the order of 10 defective parts per million (DPPM) are driving improvements in inspection tools’ resolution and throughput at foundries and OSATs. However, defects that manifest as slips, scratches, and micro-cracks continue to bedevil the prevalent optical inspection methods. These defects can range in size from nanometers to millimeters, some of which are... » read more

Rethinking Scan Chains In Semiconductor Test


An explosion in design complexity, fueled by increased transistor density and fundamental shifts in chip architectures, are beginning to overwhelm traditional approaches to test. Defects can show up in the clock trees that drive scan chains, and even inside blocks of scan cells, which may number in the millions. Jayant D'Souza, technical product director for yield learning products in Siemens E... » read more

Front-End Technologies Are The New Back-End Tools: Using Picosecond Ultrasonics Technology For AI Packages, Part 1


If you are a part of the semiconductor industry or simply someone interested in the field, you have likely heard what has become a common refrain: the back-end of the process is becoming more like the front-end of the process. In other words, the technologies that were once exclusively deployed in the first part of the process are being used to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of ad... » read more

In-System/In-Field Testing Using High-Quality Deterministic Test Patterns


The amount of electronic content in passenger cars is growing rapidly, primarily due to the integration of advanced safety features. The shift towards fully autonomous vehicles, which must comply with stringent safety standards, will further increase the number of electronic components required. Testing efforts must be of exceptional quality. The target test time is often limited to less than 1... » read more

Tackling Advanced Chip Manufacturing Challenges


Intel and PDF Solutions are deepening their partnership to address the growing complexity of semiconductor manufacturing at advanced nodes, according to a recent discussion between Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan and PDF Solutions CEO John Kibarian at the Direct Connect Intel Foundry event in April. During the presentation, Kibarian highlighted how the two companies have been collaborating for approxim... » read more

The Challenges Of Testing Automotive Chips


For as long as semiconductor devices have been around, motor vehicles have been one of the toughest operating environments. Chips in automobiles, trucks, and buses are subject to extremes of temperature, humidity, vibration, and radiation. The challenges of designing for these environmental conditions have grown more pronounced with advanced technology nodes, which are necessary to satisfy mark... » read more

Challenges In Using Sub-7nm ICs In Automotive


The automotive industry is producing vehicles with increasing levels of real-time decision-making, enabled by thousands of ICs, sensors, and multi-chip packages, but making sure these systems work flawlessly throughout their expected lifetimes is a growing challenge. Automotive chips traditionally were developed at mature process nodes in five- to seven-year cycles, but much has changed over... » read more

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