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

Overlay, Critical Dimension, And Z-Height Metrology Solutions For Advanced Packaging


The consumer’s thirst for AI-based applications is powering the ever-evolving electronics industry. Applications delivering higher levels of information in human language-like form, smarter at-home gadgets, the ability to receive a medical diagnosis without a doctor’s visit and the convenience of autonomous vehicles are among the applications powering this thirst. To better enable these app... » read more

Why Thin Film Measurements Matter


Semiconductor devices are becoming thinner and more complex, making thin deposited films even harder to measure and control. With 3nm node devices in production and 2nm nodes ramping toward first-silicon, the importance of precise film measurement is only growing in significance as fabs seek to maintain the performance and reliability of leading-edge devices. Whether it’s the read and writ... » read more

Measuring Multi-Layer Ultra-Thin Critical Films


Artificial intelligence is one of the driving forces in today’s semiconductor industry, with more traditional market drivers like high performance compute and smart phones continuing to play important roles. This situation is unlikely change in the years ahead as chip makers continue their quest to create the most advanced nodes. With 3nm nodes in production and 2nm nodes on the horizon, the ... » read more

Using Test And Metrology Data For Dynamic Process Control


Advanced packaging is transforming semiconductor manufacturing into a multi-dimensional challenge, blending 2D front-end wafer fabrication with 2.5D/3D assemblies, high-frequency device characterization, and complex yield optimization strategies. These combinations are essential to improving performance and functionality, but they create some thorny issues for which there are no easy fixes. ... » read more

Advanced Packaging Drives Test And Metrology Innovations


Advanced packaging has become a focal point for innovation as the semiconductor industry continues to push for increased transistor density and better performance. But the pace of change is accelerating, making it harder for the entire ecosystem to keep up with those changes. In the past, major developments were roughly on an 18-month to 2-year cadence. Today, this is happening every few mon... » read more

Metrology Advances Step Up To Sub-2nm Device Node Needs


Metrology and inspection are dealing with a slew of issues tied to 3D measurements, buried defects, and higher sensitivity as device features continue to shrink to 2nm and below. This is made even more challenging due to increasing pressure to ramp new processes more quickly. Metrology tool suppliers must exceed current needs by a process node or two to ensure solutions are ready to meet tig... » read more

Non-Destructive Measurement of Bottom Width in Deep Trench Isolation Structures using IRCD Metrology


As scaling in semiconductor devices continues, the aspect ratios of deep trench isolation (DTI) structures have increased. DTI structures are used in power devices, power management ICs and image sensors as a method to isolate active devices by reducing crosstalk, parasitic capacitance, latch-up and allowing for an increase breakdown voltage of active devices. Measurement of these structures in... » read more

ECTC 2024 Session Readout: Advancement of Metrology


A Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC) session report titled "2024 ECTC Special Session Report: Advancing Metrology for Next-Generation Microelectronics" was published by NIST, Binghamton University, and TechSearch International. Abstract: "Metrology plays a pivotal role in semiconductor research, manufacturing, packaging and assembly. It is critical to the success of this... » read more

Research Bits: Aug. 13


3D X-ray of chip interiors Researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute, EPFL Lausanne, ETH Zurich, and the University of Southern California used X-rays to take non-destructive, three-dimensional images of the inside of a microchip at 4 nanometer resolution. To create the images, the researchers relied on a technique called ptychography, in which a computer combines many individual images ... » read more

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