Today's electronics systems are highly complex. Designing theses systems and specifying components for these systems is a challenging task. Electronics systems engineers and component engineers require an in-depth understanding of these components. They must answer questions such as: Which device should I choose for my system? How to I choose the right component or make sure it is specified correctly? As circuits grow more and more complicated, engineers can find themselves easily overwhelmed with data or possible options. Also, with the wide spectrum of chips available on the market, the selection process can quickly become overwhelming even for the experienced engineer. Semiconductor Technology, Design and Testing is an online course that covers the important topics regarding the process of selecting and specifying the proper chips for new electronics systems. The course covers:
- The Major Types of Chip Technologies. You will learn about the major types of chip technologies. This includes the major IC categories like CMOS, BiCMOS, and Bipolar, along with other distinctions like LDMOS, BCD, etc. We will also cover the major power semiconductor device categories like Power MOSFETs, Power Bipolars, IGBTs, and Thyristors. In addition, we’ll discuss other technology developments like SOI and FinFETs.
- IC Design Tools. You will learn about the various tools used in the IC design process. Not only will you learn about the 3 major EDA suppliers, but you will also learn about the design flow itself, and how chips are taken from concept through to a working design.
- ESD Design Fundamentals. You'll learn how designers protect a chip from overstress conditions like EOS and ESD. You will learn how to protect the inputs, outputs, and power supply terminals of the chip. You will also learn how the chip technology plays a role in the ESD robustness. You will be introduced to the major standards for ESD.
- Components and Their Tolerances. You will learn about tolerances associated with both digital and analog components. The factors affecting tolerances include: design, manufacturing, stresses due to packaging and circuit assembly, and use conditions such as temperature. You'll learn to identify key pieces of information that allow you to determine if you should use the component in their system, and potential interactions that might create a problem.
- IC Testing. You will delve into the IC testing process. You will follow the test development process from the chip-planning phase through design and into the validation process. You will learn how the chip manufacturer characterizes the components and sets limits for the various parameters.