Omron Corp., a Japanese provider of health-care equipment and factory automation, is entering the chipmaking gear market with the launch of an X-ray scanner in the spring. The VT-X950 machine will produce 3D images of chips with sufficient resolution to identify defects at a 1-nanometer scale, significantly ahead of current best-in-class silicon fabrication techniques. This new technology will allow chipmakers to monitor production in close to real time and make adjustments more efficiently, ultimately improving production yields.
The demand for CT scans as part of the semiconductor manufacturing process is urgent as the industry pursues die shrinking and chiplet technology. Omron’s CT scanners are the only realistic option for chipmakers to install on their assembly lines, as no other machines can produce high-quality CT images in real time.
X-Rays Are Becoming an Essential Health Check-Up in Chipmaking – Detail Points
– Omron Corp. is focusing on the chipmaking gear market to fuel future growth
– They are launching an X-ray scanner in the spring to detect flaws in semiconductor manufacturing and improve production yields
– The VT-X950 machine will produce 3D images of chips with resolution to identify defects at a 1-nanometer scale
– Scans take only 30 seconds each, allowing for close to real-time monitoring and efficient adjustments
– Real-time CT scanning is necessary for the semiconductor industry’s trend of making a wider variety of chips in smaller lots
– Omron’s CT scanners are the only realistic option for chipmakers to install on their assembly lines
– Demand for CT scans in the semiconductor manufacturing process is urgent as the industry pursues die shrinking and chiplet technology
– Quality control and yield improvement are paramount in advanced chip manufacturing, making real-time monitoring crucial
– Traditional function tests and slower X-ray checks are being replaced by faster and more efficient CT scanning technology
– Omron’s general manager of inspection systems is confident that demand for CT scanning in chipmaking will grow as chips become more complex and expensive to manufacture
What is Omron Corp. and what market is it targeting for future growth?
Omron Corp. is a Japanese provider of health-care equipment and factory automation. It is targeting the lucrative chipmaking gear market for future growth.
What is the VT-X950 machine and how does it benefit chipmakers?
The VT-X950 machine is an X-ray scanner that will produce 3D images of chips with sufficient resolution to identify defects at a 1-nanometer scale. It allows chipmakers to monitor production at close to real-time and make adjustments and corrections more efficiently, ultimately improving production yields.
Why is real-time CT scanning important for the semiconductor industry?
Real-time CT scanning is important for the semiconductor industry as it allows for faster inspection of chips during the manufacturing process. With chips becoming ever more complex and expensive to manufacture, the need for quality control and yield improvement becomes paramount. X-raying chips as they are made can help detect imperfections and allow workers to fine-tune the process as needed.
Are there other machines that can produce high-quality CT images in real time?
According to Omron’s general manager of inspection systems, the CT scanners produced by Omron are the only realistic option for chipmakers to install on their assembly lines, as no other machines can produce high-quality CT images in real time.