NI Semiconductor Test Systems
ni.com/sts
Lower the Cost of Test With Semiconductor Test Systems
The Semiconductor Test System (STS) series features fully production-ready test systems that use NI technology in a
form factor suitable for a semiconductor production test environment. The STS combines the NI PXI platform, TestStand
test management software, and LabVIEW graphical programming inside a fully enclosed test head. Its “tester in a head”
design houses all the key components of a production tester including system controllers; DC, AC, and RF instrumentation;
device under test (DUT) interfacing; and device handler/prober docking mechanics. This compact design eliminates the
extra floor space, power, and maintenance required by traditional ATE testers that unnecessarily increase the cost of test.
Additionally, with the open, modular STS design, you can take advantage of the latest industry-standard PXI modules for
more instrumentation and computing power.
STS T1 System
Accommodates one 18-slot
PXI chassis internally.
STS T2 System
Accommodates up to two 18-slot
PXI chassis internally.
STS T4 System
Accommodates up to four 18-slot
PXI chassis internally.
The STS series consists of three test system sizes—T1, T2, and T4—that accommodate one, two, and four 18-slot PXI
chassis (4U, 19 in. rack space), respectively. All test systems support common interfacing infrastructure, so you can scale
up to meet exact pin-count and site-count requirements in production as well as scale down for characterization. This ability to
scale with common hardware and software infrastructure helps you not only optimize system costs but also simplify data
correlation from production to characterization, which accelerates your time to market.
Inside the NI Semiconductor Test System
NI PXI Platform
PXI Chassis and Controller
Semiconductor Test
System Software
PXI Instrumentation
Production Test Cell Features
Test Management Software:
TestStand
Code Module Development:
LabVIEW
System Enclosure
Standard Docking and Interfacing
Benefits of a PXI-Based Approach for RF and Mixed-Signal Test
The STS is built on the industry-standard PXI hardware platform. Adopted across multiple industries, PXI is an open platform
governed by the PXI Systems Alliance with more than 1,500 products from over 60 vendors. PXI chassis provide a high-speed,
high-bandwidth PCI Express bus for data sharing and integrated timing and synchronization. PXI also offers a framework
for using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies such as the latest multicore processors and FPGAs. To take
advantage of the latest commercial computing power while meeting the long-term life-cycle requirements of industrial
environments, the processors for PXI controllers are selected from Intel’s embedded roadmap, which features controllers
designed for long-term industrial use.
For instrumentation, the STS takes full advantage of NI’s cutting-edge PXI instruments for DC (IV), AC, and RF, along with
common system resources such as digital pin electronics and power supplies. For world-class software capability, the STS
harnesses the power of LabVIEW and TestStand. Though based on the broadly used NI PXI platform, the STS is designed
to meet the specific needs of the semiconductor production test environment. The “tester in a head” design provides
a compact, zero-footprint system enclosure with manipulator integration for docking to handlers or probers. The STS
incorporates system cabling, a spring probe interface, a standard device interface board infrastructure with a common
device interface board design, and system utilities such as system status monitoring and system calibration. With these
features, the STS comes ready to integrate into a semiconductor production test cell.
‘‘Traditional ATE systems require
major costly retooling efforts
as generations of test systems
become obsolete or unable to
meet new test requirements,
Semiconductor
Test System
but the nature of the open
PXI architecture of the STS
helps us retain our original
investment and build upon
’’
it rather than throw it away.
–Glen Peer, Director of Test,
Integrated Device Technology
All the systems share common, interchangeable device interface boards, which offer
scalability to various pin-count and site-count requirements. Overall, the STS is designed to
provide cost-optimized, high-performance test solutions for RF and mixed-signal test of
RF/analog-centric devices such as RF power amplifiers, microelectromechanical system
(MEMS) accelerometers, and power management ICs.
With an open, modular design, the STS offers you a framework to evolve test capabilities
and meet next-generation test requirements. This means you can upgrade or augment
key components with the latest PXI instrumentation, the newest PXI controllers featuring
the best COTS computing technology, or even standard 19 in. rack equipment for system
augmentation. This protects your investment in the test system over multiple technology
generations and gives you the ability to cost-effectively adapt to changing requirements.
Powerful Software Tools to Develop, Debug, and Deploy Test Programs
The STS includes TestStand with added features for semiconductor test management, LabVIEW for code module
development, and built-in system utilities for system calibration, diagnostics, resource monitoring, and control.
With the STS operator
interface, you can
easily select, run, and
view key test program
data all on one
powerful interface.
TestStand
At the center of the STS is TestStand ready-to-run test management software, which is designed to help you quickly
develop and deploy test programs. With TestStand, you can develop test sequences that integrate code modules written
in multiple programming languages. Users can easily customize execution flow, reporting, database logging, and connectivity
to other enterprise systems. Key features include:
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■
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Test Sequence Editor
with multisite support
Operator interface
DUT binning
■
Handler/prober integration
■
Flexible debugging tools
■
Standard Test Data Format (STDF)
with database connectivity
■
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Pin and channel mapping
for DUT-centric test programming
Integration with
third-party instrumentation
LabVIEW
Through an intuitive graphical development environment, LabVIEW simplifies hardware integration and reduces development
time by eliminating the complexity of traditional code design. With ready-to-run examples, built-in templates and sample
projects, and ready-to-use engineering IP, LabVIEW helps you quickly develop code modules according to the test plans
of a given semiconductor device.
Cutting-Edge Instrumentation for RF and Mixed-Signal Semiconductor Test
The core STS measurement engine is built on cutting-edge NI PXI instruments, ranging from the industry’s first vector
signal transceiver to source measure units with revolutionary NI SourceAdapt technology. The overall capability of the
STS improves with every new PXI module released by NI or other members of the PXISA.
RF Instrumentation
NI’s world-class RF instrumentation includes vector signal analyzers, signal generators, power meters, vector network
analyzers, and vector signal transceivers (VSTs). The 26.5 GHz vector signal analyzer provides a unique combination of bestin-class measurement performance, speed, and flexibility with industry-leading dynamic range and a bandwidth of 765 MHz.
NI STS With RF Subsystem
RF Subsystem
The STS is available with RF port expansion modules for multiport
RF test. The core of this subsystem is the VST which provides up
to 200 MHz of real-time bandwidth for RF signal generation and
Port
Modules
analysis in a compact 3-slot PXI module.
VST
Tx
Rx
You can configure multiple VSTs with RF port expansion modules,
and the entire subsystem is fully enclosed inside the STS. With
the RF subsystem, the STS delivers a complete production test
platform for a broad range of RFICs, including the ubiquitous RF
front-end ICs, and emerging devices like the RF MEMS.
■
Up to 48 bidirectional RF ports
■
S-parameter and wideband measurement capability
■
Automatic RF vector calibration
■
Reliable solid-state design
DC Instrumentation
With the compact, high-precision, and high-speed NI source measure units (SMUs) featuring SourceAdapt technology,
you can optimize SMU response even in the presence of capacitive loads. NI SMUs provide powerful DC or voltage-current
(VI) test capability with up to 100 fA current measurement resolution for both wafer and package device test.
AC Instrumentation
NI’s broad range of oscilloscopes/digitizers with up to 24 bits or 12.5 GS/s and arbitrary waveform generators with
up to 145 MHz analog bandwidth offer AC instrumentation capabilities for devices such as data converters and
MEMS accelerometers.
Digital, Device Power, and General-Purpose Instrumentation
The NI PXI platform features a range of core instrumentation such as digital instruments with per-pin parametric
measurement capability, high-speed serial protocols up to 12.5 Gb/s, up to 60 W general-purpose power supplies,
and 7½-digit high-performance multimeters for various digital and mixed-signal test requirements.
Enabling Success Every Step of the Way
Take advantage of product services, training and certification programs, and professional services that meet
your needs during each phase of the application life cycle—from planning and development through deployment
and ongoing maintenance anywhere throughout the world.
Training and Certification
Developer training provides the most effective way to increase your productivity and efficiently develop robust,
maintainable applications. Operator training helps you develop a skilled workforce of in-house experts.
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Multiple Training Formats
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Online Training
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Customized Training Paths
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Professional Certifications
Product Services
Leverage benefits that span across a broad services portfolio to meet the full spectrum of STS application
needs. These services are delivered through a comprehensive, tiered program to provide you with flexible choices.
Standard
Service Program (SSP)
Premium
Service Program (PSP)
PremiumPlus
Service Program (PPSP)
This coverage helps reduce
costs and development time:
For critical application needs that
demand a faster response, access
SSP entitlements plus offerings
such as the following:
When you require flexible service
capabilities, NI offers highly
customizable service options for
large organizations or deployments:
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Technical Support
■
Access to Online Training
Software Updates/Upgrades
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Extended Hours Technical Support
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Custom Support Options
Hardware Maintenance
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Expanded Online Training Access
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Unlimited NI Software Access
System Assembly
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Advanced Replacement
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On-Site Calibration
for Hardware and Systems
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Sparing and Repair Management
License Management
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Long-Term Application Support
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Professional Services
The experienced team of NI engineering professionals and Alliance Partners is ready to tackle any challenge you face
to ensure your success.
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Prototyping and Feasibility Analysis
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Interface Solutions
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Engineering Consulting and
Development Assistance
US Corporate Headquarters
11500 N Mopac Expwy Austin, TX 78759-3504
T: 512 683 0100 F: 512 683 9300 info@ni.com
International Branch Offices—ni.com/global
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