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Presto Engineering offers specialised testing service for CMOS image sensors up to 12" in diameter

March 8, 2018

San Jose, Calif., USA -  Testing CMOS image sensors on a wafer-size scale is not easy because of the challenges of creating uniform illumination over a large area. Presto Engineering has developed a custom, computer-controlled solution that illuminates sections of the wafer in turn. Integrating the results enables the whole wafer to be tested automatically for an array of large sensors or even sensors that are right up to the size of an entire 12-inch wafer.

 

"An entire wafer can be tested in a laboratory using a similar method," explained Martin Kingdon, Presto Engineering's VP of Sales. "However laboratories are not geared up for fast commercial testing so we designed our own solution to test any size wafer. Importantly, we can do this in small to medium sized test runs here in Europe at our Class 10K cleanroom facility in Meyreuil, France, near Aix-en-Provence. We believe that we are probably the only such commercial test service to be available in Europe."

 

Commercial testing of small image sensors is very easy as the small areas involved are easy to illuminate with a controlled, uniform test pattern of light. But, as the area increases, it becomes harder to maintain the uniformity across the test area of an individual sensor due to the limitation of the optics. By illuminating sections of the wafer in turn, Presto is able to merge the results together to test the functionality of the image sensors on the wafer.

The need for larger image sensors is being driven, in particular, by medical imaging and aerospace that can require whole wafer-sized, image sensors and are transitioning from CCD to CMOS solutions. Similarly, security and military applications, etc. are all wanting larger, better sensors to provide the resolution required to provide clear sharp images, as well as other 4K resolution cameras. The tester is located in Presto's EAL 5/6+ facilities so that it meets the security needs of sensitive applications.

 

Presto's Teradyne® IP750Ex based test solution provides a large (80x100mm), uniform (+/-2%), high-intensity illumination field up to 10K Lux at a range of colour temperatures. Built-in IR filtering prevents sensor damage. Its ability create a customised test solution for complex devices (as large as 32M pixels at speeds up to 200MHz) on up to 12-inch wafers enables fast ramps without compromising cost-of-test.

 

Presto Engineering will be attending the conference at Image Sensors Europe 2018 on the 14th and 15th March 2018. www.image-sensors.com

 

More information about Presto Engineering can be found at www.presto-eng.com.

 

About Presto Engineering

Presto Engineering provides outsourced operations for semiconductor, sensor and IoT device companies, helping its customers minimize overhead, reduce risk and accelerate time-to-market. The company is a recognized expert in the development of industrial solutions for RF, analog, mixed-signal, CMOS image sensing and secured applications - from tape-out to delivery of finished goods. Presto's proprietary, highly secure manufacturing and provisioning solution, coupled with extensive back-end expertise, gives its customers a competitive advantage. The company offers a global, flexible, dedicated network with operations across Europe, the USA and Asia. For more information, visit: www.presto-eng.com or email info@presto-eng.com

 

 

Agency Contact USA: 

Sandy Fewkes, MindWrite Communications, Inc. 
T : +1 408 224 4024 www.mind-write.com

 

Teradyne is a registered trademark of Teradyne, Inc

 

Contacts

Presto Engineering Contact:
Matyas Schegerin
matyas.schegerin@presto-eng.com

 

Presto Engineering provides ASIC design and outsourced operations for semiconductor and IoT device companies, helping its customers minimize overhead, reduce risk, and accelerate time-to-market. The company is a recognized expert in the development of industrial solutions for RF, analog, mixed-signal, and secured applications – from design, tape-out to delivery of finished goods. Presto’s proprietary, highly-secure manufacturing and provisioning solution, coupled with extensive back-end expertise, gives its customers a competitive advantage. The company offers a global, flexible, dedicated framework, with headquarters in Meyreuil, France, and operations across Europe, North America, and Asia. For more information, visit: www.presto-eng.com.

 

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