Understanding Test Quality In Semiconductor Devices: An Overview


When it comes to semiconductor device testing, the primary goal is to ensure that each device meets functional and performance specifications. Testing also plays a crucial role in confirming that products will work as intended in real-world applications. However, defects in the manufacturing process can be a hindrance, making testing an essential step for quality assurance. Why test matters: F... » read more

Aftermarket Sensors Boost Yield In Wafer Fabs


Third-party sensors are being added into fab equipment to help boost yield and to extend the life of expensive tools, supplementing the sensors that come with equipment used in fabs. The data gleaned from those sensors has broad uses within the fab. It can measure process module performance, identify defect sources, and alert fabs of impending equipment failure. And when coupled with machine... » read more

AI Predictive Modeling Tools Move Into Critical Role To Leverage AI, ML


The semiconductor industry, as always, is at the forefront of transformational technological innovation, driving escalating complexity of manufacturing processes that extend time-to-market delivery, inflate research and development costs, and lead to expensive delays when problems arise. As manufacturers navigate these challenges, the need for comprehensive prediction of manufacturing proble... » read more

Getting The Biggest ROI On Your Digital Twin


In the semiconductor industry, digital twins are the focus of a lot of attention, with substantial investments from industry players and governments alike. This year the European Union and the United States have pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and funding opportunities, including the new CHIPS Digital Twin Manufacturing USA Institute. Ultimately, many people see great value in... » read more

AI’s Ability To Deliver Breakthroughs Across Semiconductor Design And Manufacturing


AI holds great promise for our industry. It will help close the divide between design, manufacturing and test that is required to effectively produce today’s most advanced hybrid devices. One way to look at the potential impact of AI in the semiconductor industry is to realize that it is more and more driven by software engineering. When designing a chip, it’s essentially like writing... » read more

A Renaissance Of Innovation


Innovation in semiconductor testing plays a critical role in the advancement of the semiconductor industry, ensuring that the chips and components that power modern technology are reliable, efficient, and capable of meeting the ever-increasing demands of various applications. As semiconductors become more complex, the methods and technologies used to test them must also evolve to maintain quali... » read more

Achieving Zero Defect Manufacturing Part 3: Prevention Of Defects


The concept of zero defect manufacturing has been around for decades, arising first in the aerospace and defense industry. Since then, this manufacturing approach has been adopted by the automotive industry, and it has only grown in importance as the sector transitions to electric vehicles. Given the role semiconductors play in today’s vehicles, and will play in the future, it is no surprise ... » read more

From Mobile Phones To Robotics: How The Industry Continues To Drive Innovation


I recently had the opportunity to host Pierre Cambou, Principal Analyst for Global Semiconductors at Yole Group, on the Advantest podcast. What struck me about our conversation was while we focused on what was going on in the mobile market, the entire talk was reflective of the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and how technology can drive intense cycles of innovation. As Pierre ... » read more

Combining Silicon Data Capture And Edge Processing Offers A Promising Solution For Automotive OEMs


By Lorin Kennedy and Jasmin Mulaosmanovic In the world of electric (EV) and software-defined vehicles (SDV), a key challenge and opportunity besets original equipment manufacturers (OEM): that of effectively harnessing in-vehicle and silicon data to improve user experience and quite literally drive business benefits. While collecting telemetry data is straightforward enough, the difficulty l... » read more

Real-Time Safety Monitoring


Various types of semiconductor test will determine whether a chip is free of defects and meets the specification, but understanding how it's behaving in the field under real workloads and harsh ambient conditions may be very different in automotive applications, where vibration, heat, cold can disrupt the normal functioning of a chip over time and reduce its lifespan. Alex Burlak, vice presiden... » read more

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