Special Qualifications

Another set of requests involve reliability studies.  This can range from a simple life test at what is for us an unusual supply voltage, up to a full AES-Q100 automotive qualification on a specific part.  Internally, we do a lot of "type" qualifications.  Since we use a gate array architecture in most of our designs, we consider a gate array reliability study to be valid for all devices built on that family of gate arrays.  Some customers prefer to have data specific to their device, so we just repeat the study with their devices.

A third category of tests involve device characterization at elevated temperatures.  This is particularly useful to the military and oil industries.  We have a temperature forcing probe that will go up to 150C which covers most requests.  For higher temperatures, we have to build an extension cable to allow a part to be placed in an oven and still tested. 

Small companies compete by providing levels of service that cannot be provided by larger companies.  Special qualifications are just another part of providing a higher service level.

Date

2012-11-15