Automotive Component Reliability Services
"Automotive Component Reliability Services" is a series of verification and testing services focused on the "Reliability" and "Durability" of automotive electronic components in long-term use in real application environments.
Automotive electronic components mainly refer to the verification standards established by the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC), including AEC-Q100 (active components), AEC-Q101 (discrete semiconductors), AEC-Q102 (optical discrete semiconductors), AEC-Q103 (microelectromechanical components), AEC-Q104 (multichip modules), and AEC-Q200 (passive components), among five standards.
AEC was initiated and established in 1994 by major American automakers such as Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors (GM), and currently has members from major automotive manufacturers, automotive electronics, and semiconductor companies around the world. The verification specifications for automotive electronics may seem stricter than those for general components at first glance, but in fact, they are primarily based on commonly used international standards such as JEDEC or MIL-STD, with the addition of some special items, such as IC electromagnetic compatibility (IC EMC) testing and board-level reliability.
The automotive verification process includes Die Design, Wafer manufacturing, component packaging, electrical testing, and reliability testing, with rigorous verification items at each stage. The table below shows the AEC-Q100 automotive verification process for active components.
圖1Automotive electronic product verification AEC-Q100
Although AEC has established testing standards for three major categories: active components, discrete semiconductor components, and passive components, in practice, automotive parts also include terminals, connectors, printed circuit boards, wires, and mechanical components. These types of parts are usually designed by the user company, which provides testing specifications for suppliers to use. The locations where automotive parts are used are mainly concentrated in the engine area and the passenger area, and their basic temperature requirements differ, thus the recommended specifications for testing temperatures also vary. Among them, LEDs are more special, with a narrower temperature range.
Automotive electronic testing, in addition to traditional product lifespan testing, incorporates tests related to product structure or assembly quality. For example, considering the risk issues of cavity package structures, vibration and drop tests are included. Automotive electronics emphasize the family concept; for homogeneous groups, the number or content of tests can be simplified. Furthermore, AEC only provides testing recommendations and does not have the function of review and approval. All test results are presented in a self-declaration manner, but it is advisable to confirm specification standards with customers or users as a priority.
Automotive electronic components are not easily adopted, and the certification process takes a long time. Although Taiwan is a hub for IC design, its share of the global automotive electronic component market remains low. MA-tek's reliability laboratory has gathered industry professionals to provide integrated services for the verification of automotive components and offers relevant training to clients, aiming to assist clients in quickly and accurately passing the verification process.
Figure 2 MA-tek's comprehensive automotive verification services
The information technology security assessment standard ISO/IEC 15408 integrates the information security technology standards from Europe and the United States (originating from military standards) and has gradually developed into an international standard for global information security technology. Currently, through the CC mutual recognition mechanism (CCRA, Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement), member countries recognize laboratory capabilities, assessment results, and certification security levels.
International Standard for Information Security
MA-tek is the first in the world to passISO/IEC 15408 EAL6Certified third-party analysis testing laboratory.
圖3CC assessment and validation
MA-tek is a third-party analysis and testing laboratory covering semiconductor materials and the electronics field. It has 16 laboratories worldwide. Among them, the Jinshan laboratory located in the Science Park mainly provides reliability testing and verification services for new products and new manufacturing processes, as well as new technologies for electronic components across various industries. It officially passed the Germany Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) ISO/IEC 15408 CC EAL6 information security site certification in September 2020, taking only 10 months, making it the first analysis and testing laboratory in the world to achieve ISO/IEC 15408 EAL6 certification.
In the future, MA-tek can directly undertake testing of security products, such as smart card-related products and system chips, operating systems, application systems, card readers, and other network-related security products, as well as system firewalls, wireless network cards, wireless access points, Trusted Platform Modules (TPM), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), and provide technical analysis and reliability testing for clients' information security product qualifications. This will significantly reduce the certification burden and auditing business for clients, effectively lowering resource costs for both parties.
