Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is one of the most important imaging techniques used in semiconductor failure analysis. While optical microscopes remain extremely useful for initial inspection, many semiconductor defects are simply too small to characterize adequately with visible-light microscopy. SEM uses a focused beam of electrons rather than light, allowing engineers ...
Package failure analysis is the systematic investigation of defects and failures originating within semiconductor packaging, interconnects, solder connections, die attach, bond wires, redistribution layers and other structures that connect the semiconductor die to the outside system.
A semiconductor device may fail electrical testing even though the silicon itself is functioning correctly. ...
The Qmode project is funded with an MIT-R&D collaboration project grant from the Provincie Overijssel, dedicated to stimulate the innovation and development of products, processes and services of local SMEs working in the Dutch Top Sectors. The collaboration established in Qmode will help QuiX secure a leading position in the ...
Once an electrical failure has been localized inside an integrated circuit, the next challenge is determining what physically went wrong. Was a metal interconnect broken? Did a via fail? Is there contamination between two structures? Has a dielectric layer broken down? Is a transistor structure abnormal? Or did the failure originate in the ...
Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM) is a non-destructive imaging technique widely used in semiconductor failure analysis to inspect structures and interfaces hidden inside IC packages. Unlike optical microscopy, which relies on visible light, or X-ray inspection, which relies primarily on differences in material density and X-ray absorption, SAM uses high-frequency acoustic waves. This ...
Overview of Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) Technology and Historical Development
Shockley's early transistor game most likely inspired the notion of fusing silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) to create an alloy for use in transistor engineering. However, this concept has just become a reality in the last 15 years due to the challenges associated ...
Hsinchu, Taiwan -- July 11, 2023 -- Faraday Technology Corporation (TWSE: 3035), a leading ASIC design service and IP provider, launched its SerDes (serializer/deserializer) total solution comprises SerDes IP design on UMC 28nm and the corresponding IP advanced (IPA) service which includes IP subsystem integration, PHY hardcore implementation, and signal integrity/power ...
Kaiserslautern, Germany – July 31, 2025 – Creonic GmbH, the leading provider of cutting-edge communications IP cores, announces the release of Version 6.0 of its DVB-S2X Demodulator IP core. This major update introduces powerful enhancements that expand the configurability and technical performance of one of Creonic’s most mature and widely ...
IC short circuit failure analysis is the process of determining where an unintended electrical connection exists inside a semiconductor device, package or interconnect structure and identifying the physical defect that created the short.
A short circuit may initially appear only as excessive supply current, unexpectedly low resistance between two nodes, abnormal ...
Many important semiconductor package defects are completely hidden from optical inspection. A solder ball can contain a void. A bond wire can be broken inside an encapsulated package. A die-attach layer may contain large areas of voiding. A package substrate can contain an open trace, and an advanced package may have ...
