Productization Service

STARCHIP is a 32 bit microcontroller, secure, flash based Product IP provider. The productization of our products is a unique aspect of our engagement model. It is a service obviously part of our engagement model but can be also offered as a separate service.

For complete white paper, please email to: Sales & Marketing : MARKETING

The Productization Process

Open Foundry Interface

The process of prototyping and then qualifying a design for production can be a nightmare if it is not anticipated at the start. The product will either yield low or never go to production throwing out the window any savings in cost or improvements in performance and quality.

Most of the issues to consider when productizing a chip are:

• CMOS process technology experience in Fabs
• Embedded Flash technology experience
• Debug capability
• Failure Analysis
• Product Qualification
• Back-end Cost
• Lead time control
• Yield tracking
• Quality follow up
• Field Return

STARCHIP has the expertise in the following areas to address these issues:

• Fab qualification
• Cost Engineering
• Assembly and Test Engineering
• Product Engineering
• Quality Engineering

Productization

Typically, in traditional semiconductor fabs, a product goes through the following steps before a release to production. :

Figure 1: STARCHIP Qualification Process

The first phase is the prototype phase from design through prototype approval and the second phase is the product release phase from characterization through qualification

Prototyping is is the first step which will allow one to verify a design in actual silicon. The prototyping flow can be illustrated as follows:

Figure 2: STARCHIP Prototyping Flow

One of the key requirements during prototyping is the test program development. It requires an in depth knowledge of Automatic Test Equipment (ATE). This is key to choosing the right test house for production and also for efficient prototype electrical characterization. At STARCHIP, we have the experts to do this and a local set up at our own test facility which includes 200mm wafer test capability.

Product release

The product release phase is the final step to qualify the product for production with a target level of quality and yield.

Figure 3: STARCHIP Product Release Flow

The prototype, once it is validated, must be characterized using specific “corner” lots in the target foundry so that extreme variations of wafer processing conditions can be exercised. This process experiment will assess possible drop in the product test yield.

 Figure 4 Test Data Analysis (Courtesy of GALAXY: www.galaxysemi.com)

Electrical data from the testers are processed with specific data analysis software off line. All parameter distributions are analyzed in order to assess the product’s robustness when in production. CPks which measure process variations are calculated and analyzed as well.

Qualification at STARCHIP is based on JEDEC JESD47 recommendations which cover life test, early failure rate calculation, endurance cycling and retention for the embedded flash memories, ESD, Latch-up and package related Tests. STARCHIP works closely with qualified laboratories to do these tests. 

Volume Production

Once the product release phase is complete, we can start volume production .

Besides a successful transfer to production of STARCHIP’s product, STARCHIP will guarantee full support in production:

• Yield Tracking
• Collection of Data (i.e: wafer map)
• Product Engineering
• Yield Improvement
• Corrective Actions
• Technology, Design or Specification change
• Failure Analysis on returned  parts
• Corrective Actions
• Technology, Design or Application Note
• Cost reduction programs
• Shrink, test time reduction
• Subcontractor Consulting

Summary

STARCHIP’s engagement model is unique in the semiconductor industry. Its foundation relies on the strong product knowledge by our Team which has many years of proven experience with SOC chip specification and design, embedded security, advanced CMOS and embedded Flash technologies, PRODUCTIZATION and manufacturing.

STARCHIP gives OEMs the capability to buy chips straight from Open Sourced Foundries at the lowest prices and highest quality.

For complete white paper, please email to: Sales & Marketing : MARKETING