Revolutionizing Burn-In Testing
Cosmic’s Ovenless, Energy-Efficient Solution
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In the semiconductor ecosystem, the semiconductor Burn-In process is one of the most delicate and sensitive procedures as it helps prevent inherent defects, commonly recognized in electronics and described by the so-called bathtub curve. This curve illustrates the defect rate throughout the product lifecycle of a component. Given the natural occurrence of infant mortality failure of components, the Burn-In test procedure aims to identify those components that exhibit early failure and must therefore be intercepted and discarded. If these defective components are released into the market, they could cause severe malfunctions and potentially harm people or property.

The Burn-In system developed by Cosmic is revolutionary because it is ovenless, introducing disruptive innovation and significant improvements over traditional systems used for microcontrollers.

The Burn-In test system acts as a life accelerator (to detect early semiconductor failures).
Infant mortality failure is a high-risk factor because failing to detect potential early failures can severely impact the reputation of device manufacturers. Conversely, a robustly tested system enhances the perceived quality of the product due to its long-term reliability. Quality comes at a cost, such as when the Burn-In test procedure must be performed on 100% of the units.

The challenges of traditional Burn-In testing
Based on Arrhenius’ chemical reaction theory, we know that aging is regulated by two parameters: temperature and electrical stress. Traditional systems opted for an approach using a large thermal chamber where all components were simultaneously placed, along with the necessary hardware to ensure functionality. Essentially, a board, sockets, and a thermal chamber with large footprint were used, causing the aging of the entire board (including components not intended for testing), leading to significant thermal inefficiency due to high heat dispersion.
This inefficiency remains a problem for those not using an ovenless burn-in system.
Thus, two inefficiencies are avoided thanks to ovenless Burn-In procedure:

• thermal dispersion (because the process affects everything in the thermal chamber)
• the requirement for large spaces due to the chamber’s size

Moreover, traditional systems are unsustainable in terms of environmental impact, as they struggle to maintain uniform temperature across all levels and positions, leading to reduced energy efficiency and further affecting environmental sustainability.

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Cosmic
Cosmic is a global player in advanced competitive semiconductor test solutions, built on a growth and integration strategy since 2022. With over 400 professionals across 15 direct locations in Europe, the US, and Asia, Cosmic operates through two distinct and complementary Divisions: the Equipment division and the Services division. Together, the units enable customers to select optimal solutions from a comprehensive portfolio, underpinned by deep technological expertise with international operational excellence, thereby contributing to improved quality, efficiency, and time-to-market in advanced electronics and high-reliability applications.