Keysight unveils new semiconductor chip testing method

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a $26.12 billion technology leader with robust financials including a healthy 62.57% gross margin, has introduced an innovative measurement solution that simplifies the testing of Wide-Bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor bare chips, a pivotal component in power electronics utilized in various industries, including electric vehicles, renewable energy, and data centers. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains strong liquidity with a current ratio of 2.95, indicating solid operational stability.

The new testing fixture, part of Keysight’s double-pulse test portfolio, enables engineers to accurately measure the dynamic characteristics of WBG power semiconductor bare chips without the need for soldering or probe needles. This advancement is significant as it allows for repeated testing without causing damage to the delicate chips. The fixture’s design minimizes parasitic power-loop inductance to less than 10 nanohenries, ensuring clean dynamic test waveforms.

Traditional methods of measuring the dynamic characteristics of these chips before they are packaged can introduce parasitics due to the need for soldering, which can affect the accuracy of the measurements. Keysight’s latest offering addresses this challenge by allowing dynamic characterization immediately after the chip is diced from a wafer. The unique structure of the fixture avoids probing, wire bonding, or soldering, thereby reducing parasitics.

Thomas Goetzl, Vice President and General Manager for Keysight Automotive & Energy Solutions, emphasized the importance of the new evaluation method: "With the introduction of the new WBG semiconductor bare chip evaluation method, we are helping the industry expedite the development of highly efficient and robust power semiconductor discrete devices and power modules."

The new solution is compatible with both versions of Keysight’s double pulse testers, the PD1500A Dynamic Power Device Analyzer/Double Pulse Tester and the PD1550A Advanced Dynamic Power Device Analyzer/Double Pulse Tester.

Keysight Technologies, an S&P 500 company, is a global partner in innovation, providing leading design, emulation, and test solutions that aid engineers in developing and deploying products faster and with less risk throughout the entire product life cycle.

For more information on Keysight’s bare chip dynamic measurement solution, industry professionals can visit booth #829 at APEC in Atlanta, GA, from March 16 to March 20. This article is based on a press release statement from Keysight Technologies, Inc. For detailed financial analysis and real-time updates on KEYS and other technology stocks, visit InvestingPro, where you can access exclusive features including Fair Value calculations, health scores, and expert insights.

In other recent news, Keysight Technologies has announced a new family of optically isolated differential probes designed to enhance testing efficiency for high-voltage semiconductors. These probes are particularly suited for devices such as GaN and SiC semiconductors, offering up to 100 dB greater common-mode rejection compared to standard probes. In another development, Keysight has partnered with Capgemini to accelerate the development of 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks, focusing on integrating and validating Capgemini’s RAN framework for satellite communications. This collaboration aims to address challenges in non-geostationary and low earth orbit constellations.

Additionally, Keysight has been selected by the U.S. Army to use its CyPerf solution for validating the Unified Network Program’s performance and security. This initiative is part of the Army’s efforts to integrate tactical and enterprise systems into a cohesive network. Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank has adjusted its price target for Spirent Communications, reflecting expectations for Keysight’s acquisition of Spirent following the latter’s sale of its high-speed Ethernet testing business. Lastly, Keysight is collaborating with Samsung and NVIDIA to enhance 5G and 6G technologies through AI-based radio access network advancements, which have shown significant improvements in lab tests. These developments reflect Keysight’s ongoing efforts to innovate across various technological domains.

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