TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Brings Parametric Test to New Market, Allows Manufacturers to Accelerate Yield Ramp-Up Phase.SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , Calif. -- Agilent Technologies This article needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :A) today announced a new test solution that makes parametric test a viable option for the yield ramp-up phase for the first time by allowing users to test more structures in less time with greater throughput. With the new Agilent N9201A, Agilent's 4070 testers are the first production parametric testers to offer a per-channel SMU SMU Southern Methodist University SMU Solid (Waste) Management Unit SMU Saint Mary's University (Halifax, Nova Scotia; Philippines) SMU Singapore Management University SMU Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (source/monitor unit) architecture that supports up to 40 total SMUs, five times more SMUs than previously available in a single tester, for extremely fast characterization of in-line array test structures. In addition to per-channel SMU architecture, the N9201A features an address generation function, allowing engineers to do advanced array matrix testing. At 90 nanometers and below, the testing challenges have increased for semiconductor manufacturers who need to ramp up Ramp Up To increase a company's operations in anticipation of increased demand. Notes: A company might 'ramp up' operations if they just signed a contract creating substantially more demand for their product. See also: Demand, Economies of Scale their production lines as quickly as possible. Higher throughput is needed to gather and analyze data quickly enough to be practical for use in the yield ramp-up phase, for either back-end of line (BEOL BEOL Back-End-Of-Line BEOL Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site (La Junta, Colorado) BEOL Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site (US National Park Service) ) testing or during in-line test. The Agilent N9201A's ability to support up to 40 SMUs enables high throughput measurement of array test structures, which reduces the time engineers need to optimize the process parameters to maximize yields. "Time-to-yield is becoming a more critical factor for business success at 90 nm process technology and below," said Minoru Ebihara, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Hachioji Semiconductor Test Division. "High volume parametric data See parametric symbol. is needed to shorten the cycle time required to ramp up a wafer fab to full production. With the unprecedented measurement capabilities provided by the new N9201A, customers using the Agilent 4070 series testers can efficiently perform parametric test in this critical yield ramp-up phase." Array Matrix Testing The many layers of metal interconnect and vias on 90 nanometer processes (and below) can be the source of significant yield degradation. Until now, it was not practical to test passive array matrices with a parametric tester due to long test times. The increased test speed and throughput enabled by the Agilent N9201A's number of SMUs and parallel test capabilities make passive array matrix testing viable. The N9201A option allows users to test far larger amounts of test elements, such as resistor resistor, two-terminal electric circuit component that offers opposition to an electric current. Resistors are normally designed and operated so that, with varying levels of current, variations of their resistance values are negligible (see resistance). arrays and active matrix arrays, than was possible with previous solutions. With integrated address generation function and up to 40 per-channel SMUs, the N9201A option quickly and efficiently provides improved characterization of the yield degradation of the wiring and vias at BEOL. The accurate voltage and current measurement capabilities of the SMUs provide a much higher level of accuracy and data than a simple open/short test can provide. U.S. Pricing and Availability The Agilent N9201A Array Structure Parametric test option for the Agilent 4070 parametric test systems can be ordered now, with configurations from 8 to 40 SMUs. Pricing for the Agilent N9201A option starts at $150,000 for an 8 SMU configuration. A high-resolution image of Agilent's N9201A Array Structure Parametric test option is available at www.agilent.com/find/N9201A_image. About the Agilent 4070 Series The Agilent 4070 Series offers the widest range of solutions and price-performance points available today for production parametric test. The 4070 Series provides the DC and RF measurement capabilities needed to test the 65 nm process technologies of today, as well as the sub-65 nm process technologies of tomorrow. All members of the 4070 Series family have complete DC parametric test capabilities, including Flash memory cell testing, capacitance versus voltage (CV) measurement and ring oscillator A ring oscillator is a device composed of an odd number of NOT gates whose output oscillates between two voltage levels, representing true and false. The NOT gates, or inverters, are attached in a chain; the output of the last inverter is fed back into the first. evaluation. Additionally, it is possible to integrate all models into an SECS/GEM-compatible 300 mm automated factory environment. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 20,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $5.1 billion in fiscal 2005. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com. NOTE TO EDITORS: Sales information is available by calling +1 800 829 4444, item number 8093. Please do NOT use editor contact or corporate telephone numbers for sales and product information. Information in this news release applies specifically to products available in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Product availability and specifications may vary in other markets. If you choose to review this item, your readers will receive the quickest response to their inquiries by mailing them to Agilent Technologies, Electronic Measurements Group, 5301 Stevens Creek Stevens Creek is a creek in Santa Clara County, California. The creek flows from the Santa Cruz Mountains into Stevens Creek Reservoir. It continues through Cupertino, Los Altos, and Mountain View before emptying into the San Francisco Bay. Blvd., MS 54LAK LAK In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Laos Kip. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. , Santa Clara, CA 95052. Further technology, corporate citizenship Corporate Citizenship The extent to which businesses are socially responsible in meeting legal, ethical and economic responsibilities placed on them by shareholders. The aim it to create higher standards of living and quality of life in the community in which it operates, while and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion