Chip production testing is probably the most underestimated task by ASIC development engineers. And yet, testing is an essential step with a direct impact on final chip cost.
Let’s start with the basics. Testing of chips is necessary because the chip manufacturing process cannot provide 100% yield. Silicon foundries and assembly ...
The ASIC design flow takes a chip from product specification through architecture, RTL and circuit design, verification, DFT, synthesis, physical design, signoff and tape-out, followed by wafer fabrication, packaging, wafer sort, final test and production ramp. Each stage has its own technical deliverables and acceptance criteria, and mistakes made early ...
I am sick and tired to hear the same buzzwords a zillion times every single day. IoT, Cognitive Computing, Cloud Computing, Fog Computing, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Smart-whatever (from objects to cities and pretty soon toilet paper, I'm afraid). What really makes me sick is that these buzzwords are used, ...
HTOL (High Temperature Operating Life) testing is a stress test defined by JEDEC to define the reliability of IC products, and is an essential part of ASIC qualification tests. This post provides a high-level overview of HTOL test. Obviously, you should refer to the standard if you plan to perform ...
Burn in Board is a printed circuit board which functions as a jig in the Burn-in process. The Burn-in Board is used as part of the ASIC reliability testing process during which components are stressed to detect failures. Burn in Boards consist of sockets to accommodate the tested ASICs and ...
An integrated circuit package has the sole purpose of protecting and maintaining one or more integrated circuits. It is usually in the form of a plastic, glass, metal, or ceramic casing which creates a physical barrier of protection against things like impact and corrosion. Furthermore, it helps to hold contact ...
