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Advantest Introduces New M7522 Dynamic Test Handler
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| Industry-Leading
Capabilities Offer High-Speed, Precision Positioning Handling for LCD Driver
ICs |
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TOKYO, Japan, May 28, 2008
Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857, NYSE: ATE), the worlds leading supplier of
semiconductor test equipment, today announced its new M7522 dynamic test
handler. The unit offers the industrys highest processing speed and positioning
accuracy for fine-pitch tape automated bonding (TAB) and chip-on-film (COF)
package devices used in liquid crystal display (LCD) panel ICs. The M7522
dynamic test handler will be available from August 2008 and, alongside the T6373
LCD driver test system, will be displayed as part of the companys LCD Driver IC
Test Solution at the "Advantest Tour de Force 2008" exhibition to be held at the
Tokyo International Forum, June 3-5.
Rising demand and
increased competition in the LCD market
Advancements in technology
and changes in semiconductor industry business models are contributing to the
continuing fall in price of LCD panels used in flat-screen televisions and
computer monitors. Conversely, increasing demand for higher-definition
capabilities is driving the need for higher-pin-count devices, which are more
costly to produce. With the LCD market expected to expand in the coming years,
not only in industrialized countries, but also in developing nations, it is
predicted that growth in the flat-panel television market will be particularly
strong, with demand surpassing 100 million units in 2009 and 150 million units
in 2012. Because of this, worldwide shipments of the driver ICs that these LCD
panels rely on are also expected to increase. However, as demonstrated by
the drop in price of flat-screen televisions, competition between manufacturers
has become increasingly fierce, making yield improvement and test processing
speed major issues for high-volume manufacturers of LCD driver ICs. With its
enhanced handling capabilities, Advantests M7522 dynamic test handler addresses
such issues.
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| Features
and Benefits |
| (1) |
Industrys fastest index time of 0.7 seconds for improved test
efficiency
The M7522s newly-developed feed mechanism incorporates a
high-performance servo motor, enabling an industry-leading 0.7-second index time
for tape and film mounted package devices. With the fastest processing speeds in
the industry, it contributes to test cost reductions. |
| (2) |
Advanced
positioning technology for industry-leading
performance
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A. |
Enhanced
positioning accuracy offers significant yield improvements
The
unit's optical lens, which works to recognize the position of the device and the
test probe, is now twice as powerful as that of Advantest's earlier model,
offering a positioning accuracy of }3m - the best in the industry. It
supports even the fine-pitch driver ICs necessary for increasingly
high-definition LCDs, thus contributing to great improvements in yield.
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B. |
Precision contact eliminates need for test
pads
Contact between the device and the test probe is currently
achieved through the use of test pads on the tape of the device. Once testing is
complete, these test pads are removed. With the enhanced positioning accuracy of
the M7522, high precision contact is possible even without test pads, leading to
a significant reduction in materials costs. |
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C. |
Automated needle
alignment facilitates operation
The M7522s new automated device and
test probe positioning capabilities afford greater precision and eliminate the
problems associated with manual operation. Automating the process also enables
more highly accurate positioning to be achieved in a shorter timeframe, and the
handlers precision contacts give it the ability to support many of the newer
tape trends. |
| (3) |
Automated maintenance for test
probe
Checking for bends in the needle tip
and cleaning operations can now be performed automatically by the unit as
necessary, offering improved yields and a considerable reduction in working
hours. |
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Key
Specifications |
| M7522 |
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| Target
Tapes: |
TAB,
COF (35mm/48mm/70mm)
wide and super-wide types |
| Reel Diameter: |
Up
to 620mm |
| Device Length: |
Up
to 28-perforation pitch |
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About
Advantest |
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Advantest Corporation is the
world's leading automatic test equipment supplier to the semiconductor industry,
and also produces electronic and optoelectronic instruments and systems. A
global company, Advantest has long offered total ATE solutions, and serves the
industry in every component of semiconductor test: tester, handler, mechanical
and electrical interfaces, and software. Its logic, memory, mixed-signal and RF
testers and device handlers are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor
production lines in the world. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest established
its first subsidiary in 1982, in the USA, and now has 43 subsidiaries worldwide.
Among them, Advantest America, Inc. is based in Santa Clara, CA, and Advantest
(Europe) GmbH is based in Munich, Germany. More information is available at
http://www.advantest.co.jp/ | |
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