Cascade
Autonomous Silicon Photonics
Autonomous SiPh wafer probing featuring Contact Intelligence
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Flexible Silicon Photonics Probing Solution for Vertical and Edge Coupling
FormFactor’s Autonomous Silicon Photonics Measurement Assistant sets the industry-standard in wafer and die-level silicon photonics probing. This highly flexible solution provides a multitude of testing technologies from single fibers to arrays and from vertical coupling to edge coupling. With the new revolutionary OptoVue for advanced calibrations, intelligent machine vision algorithms and the exclusive SiPh TopHat for dark, shielded and frost-free environment, the system enables hands-free autonomous calibration and re-calibration at multiple temperatures. This enables faster time to more accurate measurements and reduced cost of test.
The use of single optical fibers and fiber arrays as probes to couple light into and out of a wafer for both surface and edge coupling creates many challenges that FormFactor manages through its Contact Intelligence technology. Unlike electrical testing, optical testing uses fibers and fiber arrays that do not contact their corresponding ‘pads’ known as grating couplers or facets on the wafer surface and edge, respectively. Instead, fibers need to be articulated relative to the couplers and facets to find the position of maximum optical power transfer.
Setting the initial position of the fiber or array tips relative to the gratings and facets and then optimizing their position is accomplished through unique automated techniques developed by FormFactor engineers. Using advanced image processing and specially developed algorithms, Z height setting, fiber-to-facet gap, as well as a suite of automated calibrations of the positioning solution to the probe station are available.
FormFactor has also implemented a Z displacement sensing technology that enables precise sub-micron level placement accuracy of the fibers and arrays when stepping die-to-die. These automated optical capabilities can also be combined with programmable DC and RF positioning technology to create a truly automated Optical-Optical, Optical-Electrical, and Optical-Electrical-Optical test platform.
For optical applications, Contact Intelligence reduces what used to take days, weeks or months to a matter of minutes while offering flexibility in a dynamic engineering environment and a stable repeatable environment for production.
The Autonomous Silicon Photonics Measurement Assistant is available for the following 200 mm and 300 mm probe stations: CM300xi-SiPh and SUMMIT200.
OptoVue
- Revolutionary technology advancement for wafer and die-level photonics probing
- Real-time in-situ calibrations
- Singulated die testing
- True die-level edge coupling
- In-situ power measurements
- Advanced calibration technologies
- Enables autonomous measurements
Horizontal Die-Level Edge Coupling
- Highest accuracy in test results
- Lowest coupling loss
- Repeatable measurement results due to exclusive automated fiber-to-facet alignment technology
- Reduced risk of damaging fibers with collision avoidance technology
- Ease of use for less experienced users
- Enables close simulation of real-world conditions with device performance closest to the final application
Wafer-Level Edge Coupling
- New innovative combination of hardware and software features to align and optimize fibers/arrays in a wafer-level trench
- Minimized coupling losses with minimal trench dimensions
- Easy setup even for less experienced users
- Repeatable measurement results due to unique fiber-to-facet gap alignment technology
- Reduced risk of damaging fibers with collision avoidance technology
Vertical Coupling
- Industry standard for vertical coupling to wafer-level grating couplers
- Positioning hardware is precisely calibrated to the probe station and ready to perform die-to-die optical optimizations in minutes
- Exclusive Pivot Point calibration determines the optimal point of minimal translation at the fiber/array tip
- Search First Light feature enables automated determination of initial position for optimization
- Other integrated features: Incident Angle Cal, Optical Rotation Scan, Optical Scan Data Analysis, Optical Tracking, Align Optical Probes
Thermal Capability
- Dark, shielded and frost-free
- -40°C to +125°C
- Only solution available that enables minimized air flow impact at cold temperatures to the fibers/fiber arrays for stable and repeatable measurement results
- Exclusive ITO-coated TopHat window for easy setup
- Enables hands-free autonomous calibration and re-calibration at multiple temperatures
Alliances Hold the Key to SiPh Test Solutions
- Strong Preferred Partnership with Keysight Technologies for measurement instrumentation
- Test Executive Automation with integration into Keysight Test Automation on Pathwave
- World class precision positioning as a Preferred Partner with Physik Instrumente (PI)
- Leveraging considerable expertise through an innovative engineering team
Exclusive Automated Calibrations
- Pioneering set of automated functions that perform critical calibrations of the optical positioning system to the probe station
- Step-by-step wafer to probe height training
- CalVue utilizes uniquely designed retro-mirror technology to view all aspects of the fiber/array without external light and enables real-time in-situ automated calibrations
- Further exclusive calibration functions: motor calibration, z-displacement calibration, theta calibrations, pzt calibration, planarity calibrations, automatic pivot point calibration
Proven Performance
- Exclusive FormFactor-developed automated test methodology
- Demonstrates full performance of the positioning solution calibrated to the probe station by measuring the coupled power repeatability
- Verifies that the coupled power results across 900 measurements are within less than 0.3 dB
- In between each measurement, all solution elements are moved including the wafer chuck, hexapod stages and piezo stages
- Truly demonstrates the integrated performance and robustness of FormFactor’s Autonomous Silicon Photonics Measurement Assistant
FormFactor SiPh-Tools
- Powerful FormFactor-developed software package
- Includes a vast tool set for enabling and facilitating optical probing
- Automates manual tasks by integrating probe station machine vision capability with optical positioning and test equipment
- Features: Measurement Position Training, Wafer Training, Automated Alignment Functions, Calibration Wafer Verifications, Optical Alignment Verifications, Sub-Die Management
- Wide range of tools for capturing, logging and interpreting data
FormFactor Photonics Controller Interface (PCI)
- FormFactor-developed graphical user interface to manually control the optical positioning system
- Can also be used to setup scan parameter configurations and perform initial optical alignment functions
- Once aligned, all calibration functions are automated and performed through SiPh-Tools
Reconfigurable Fiber Arm
- Configurable between single fibers, fiber arrays and edge coupling holders
- Flexibility for engineering and volume environments
- After changing fiber holders, FormFactor’s automated calibration routines will have you back up and running in minutes
- Custom designed nanometer-accuracy integrated Z-Displacement sensor maximizes the testable area of the wafer and guarantees accurate and repeatable data collection
- Silicon Photonics
Autonomous Silicon Photonics Measurement Assistant
FormFactor's Autonomous Silicon Photonics Measurement Assistant enables and optimizes silicon photonics coupling. The use of single optical fibers and fiber arrays as probes to couple light into and out of a wafer surface creates many challenges that FormFactor manages through its Contact Intelligence technology.
Solving the Data Center Energy Crisis with Silicon Photonics | Dr. Choon Beng Sia
A deluge of business data flows into corporate data centers each day, faster than anyone can sort through it. At the same time, consumers are communicating, browsing, buying, sharing, and searching—creating their own enormous trails of data and an incredible energy demand at data centers. FormFactor’s Dr Choon Beng Sia presents a paper on the application of Silicon Photonics (SiPh) devices, how these new devices can help lower energy consumption in data centers, why accurate and reliable wafer-level photonics test are needed, and how FormFactor is helping to address the challenges of testing SiPh devices.
imec’s Silicon Photonics Research and Manufacturing Program
See how our customer imec is using our CM300 to enable their development of silicon photonics solutions
SourceOne – Certified Pre-Owned Equipment
You want the best price-performance ratio for your wafer probe station? With our Certified Used Equipment we have an attractive option for you.
SourceOne – Factory Refurbishment Program
Extend the use of your probe station for up to another 15 years with our Factory Refurbishment Program.
SourceOne – Trade In / Buy Back Program
We'll take your probe station back for a credit note.
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