IXYS UK Westcode, part of the global power semiconductor manufacturer, IXYS Corporation, is investing in its Chippenham, UK, factory to manufacture a new range of power semiconductor devices, which will be marketed alongside the company’s long-established Press-Pack Capsules (three-terminal power semiconductor devices). Nikon Metrology was chosen to supply the all-important X-ray equipment for checking the quality of the reflow soldering process during production.
Power semiconductor devices are used for switching high currents and voltages and are widely used in the rail, wind turbine, mining and petrochemical sectors. Press-Pack capsules are clamped together under high pressure to achieve the required electrical rating, whereas isolated power modules use integrated circuit on DCB (direct copper bonded) substrate technology. The Nikon Metrology XT V 160 is needed because the reflowed solder, which attaches the chips to their contact pads, must be continuous with a controlled level of voids and X-raying is the only way to see if these conditions have been met.