Portable Soft Errors Testing Apparatus with Adjustable Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current soft errors testing methods for integrated circuits are costly, time-consuming, and require specialized facilities and equipment, limiting their accessibility and efficiency, especially with the growing demand for electronic devices in industries like autonomous systems and IoT.
Innovation Solution
A portable and versatile soft errors testing apparatus that includes a radiation source, load board, and automatic testing equipment, allowing for on-site testing with adjustable radiation exposure and environmental conditions, enabling users to perform tests without shipping devices to remote labs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If soft errors testing is performed at dedicated research facilities, then testing accuracy and reliability are improved, but testing time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation source is extracted from the dedicated research facility and placed directly into the manufacturing environment, allowing testing to occur at the production site rather than requiring shipment to external labs, thereby eliminating shipping time and enabling immediate testing
Solution Approach 2:
A portable radiation source acts as an intermediary that brings the testing capability to the manufacturing floor, serving as a mobile bridge between the need for accurate radiation testing and the desire to perform testing locally without full facility relocation
2Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated load boards are designed for each device, then testing compatibility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The load board is designed with universal compatibility features that allow it to interface with multiple different device types and packaging formats, eliminating the need to design custom load boards for each device while maintaining proper electrical and mechanical connections
Solution Approach 2:
The load board incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable connection interfaces that can adapt to different device configurations, allowing a single load board design to serve multiple device types through dynamic reconfiguration rather than static dedicated connections
3Reliability
If devices are shipped to external labs for testing, then testing professionalism is improved, but resource utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing facility performs soft errors testing independently using the portable radiation source and integrated testing apparatus, eliminating the need to outsource to external labs and thereby maintaining full control over the testing process while improving resource utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The complex facility-based radiation testing system is replaced with a portable, self-contained radiation source that can be deployed directly at the manufacturing site, substituting the need for extensive mechanical infrastructure while maintaining testing capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces testing time and costs by enabling local, cost-effective, and automatic soft errors testing, allowing manufacturers to quickly identify and adjust device designs, thereby improving resource utilization and reducing the need for retesting.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation source, configured to emit radiation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An apparatus including a chamber is provided herein. The chamber includes: a radiation source; a load board slot configured for: (i) holding a load board; and (ii) connecting the load board to an automatic testing equipment; The chamber further includes at least one movable device for positioning the load board slot relative to the radiation source or positioning the radiation source relative to the load board slot; and a controller for receiving instructions and controlling the at least one movable device according to the received instructions. Said chamber, including the automatic testing equipment, is configured for constructing and operating soft errors testing by positioning the load board slot relative to the radiation source or by positioning the radiation source relative to the load board slot.