Electronic Components Maker Yokowo Develops 0.08mm Ultra-Fine Needle for Semiconductor Testing

Explanation

Electronic components maker Yokowo has developed an ultra-fine needle, 0.08mm in diameter (about as thin as a human hair), for semiconductor testing. Before shipment, semiconductor chips must be electrically tested one by one to confirm that their internal circuits work correctly. During this process, a 'probe needle' is placed against the tiny electrodes arranged on the chip to pass a signal through.

As semiconductor integration density rises and the spacing between electrodes continues to shrink, needles must become thinner, more precise, and durable enough not to break no matter how many times they make contact. A needle capable of stable contact at a thinness of 0.08mm is used for testing cutting-edge semiconductors and the in-vehicle antennas that support autonomous driving.

Beyond the technology to design and manufacture semiconductors themselves, testing technology—confirming that products have been made correctly—is also a vital field supporting product quality. In a world too small to see with the naked eye, the precision of Japanese manufacturing is at work.