Chip Industry Talent Shortage Drives Academic Partnerships


Universities around the world are forming partnerships with semiconductor companies and governments to help fill open and future positions, to keep curricula current and relevant, and to update and expand skills for working engineers. Talent shortages repeatedly have been cited as the number one challenge for the chip industry. Behind those concerns are several key drivers, and many more dom... » read more

Integration Challenges For ATE Data


Tighter integration of automatic test equipment (ATE) into semiconductor manufacturing, so that data from one process can be seamlessly leveraged by another, holds significant promise to boost manufacturing efficiency and yield. The challenge is selling this concept to fabs, packaging houses, and their customers. Data involving yield parameters, process variations, and intricate details abou... » read more

AI Testing AI: The Future Of 6G Test


The impending arrival of 6G technology promises to revolutionize the way we connect and communicate. With expected data rates of up to 100 times faster than 5G, 6G is poised to enable unprecedented applications, from augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to real-time remote surgery and autonomous vehicles with ubiquitous connectivity. A significant facet of 6G's potential lies in the ... » read more

Industry Pressure Grows For Simulating Systems Of Systems


Most complex systems are designed in a top-down manner, but as the amount of electronic content in those systems increases, so does the pressure on the chip industry to provide high-level models and simulation capabilities. Those models either do not exist today, or they exist in isolation. No matter how capable a model or simulator, there never will be one that can do it all. In some cases,... » read more

Customizing IC Test To Improve Yield And Reliability


Testing the performance and power of semiconductors as they come off the production line is beginning to shift left in the fab, reversing a long-standing trend of assessing chips just prior to shipping. While this may sound straightforward, it's a difficult challenge which, if successful, will have broad implications for the entire design-through-manufacturing flow. Manufacturers typically g... » read more

The Growing Importance Of PMIC Validation


In the ever-evolving world of technology, the semiconductor industry plays a pivotal role in shaping the devices we use daily. Among the countless components that make up these devices, Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMICs) have emerged as unsung heroes, silently ensuring the efficient use of power resources. PMICs are specialized integrated circuits designed to manage and regulate th... » read more

SiC Growth For EVs Is Stressing Manufacturing


The electrification of vehicles is fueling demand for silicon carbide power ICs, but it also is creating challenges in finding and identifying defects in those chips. Coinciding with this is a growing awareness about just how immature SiC technology is and how much work still needs to be done — and how quickly that has to happen. Automakers are pushing heavily into electric vehicles, and t... » read more

Using Generative AI To Connect Lab To Fab Test


Executive Insight: Thomas Benjamin, CTO at National Instruments, sat down with Semiconductor Engineering to discuss a new way of looking at test, using data as a starting point and generative AI as a bridge between different capabilities. SE: What are the big changes you're seeing and how is that affecting movement of critical data from the lab to the fab? Benjamin: If you walk into any m... » read more

The Importance Of Efficient Low Power Validation In Electronics


In the fast-paced world of electronics, innovation is driven not only by cutting-edge features but also by energy efficiency. Low power validation has emerged as a critical aspect of electronics applications, playing a pivotal role in designing devices that are both sustainable and user-friendly. The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable technologies has transformed the way we inter... » read more

Week In Review: Manufacturing, Test


The Chinese government is considering easing proposed rules that require foreign office equipment makers operating in the country to transfer key product technology to China, per Nikkei Asia. In April 2022, Chinese authorities began revamping their national standards to include a new requirement that key components, such as semiconductors and laser-related items, be designed, developed, and pro... » read more

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