Dr. Sule Ozev, course professor at ASU, shows the test circuitry developed for the new ASU class to Raghu Maddali of NXP and Paul Hirsch and Duane Brown, both of Advantest
In an unprecedented partnership, Advantest Corporation, a leading semiconductor test equipment supplier, Arizona State University and global semiconductor company NXP® Semiconductors have come together to revolutionize the field of test engineering education. The collaboration aims to introduce a pioneering test engineering course at ASU, aptly named “EEE 522 Radio Frequency Test,” marking it the first of its kind in the industry. The course’s curriculum, initially developed by ASU’s esteemed faculty in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, has been further enhanced through the expertise of Advantest and NXP, which contributed laboratory experiments to enrich the learning experience. This remarkable course will be offered annually, promising to shape the future of semiconductor testing.
The impetus for this groundbreaking initiative arose in mid-2022 when Advantest and NXP recognized the growing demand for test engineers amidst the surge in wafer-fab construction in Arizona, a region already home to numerous advanced chipmaking plants. Identifying a gap in local university engineering programs that failed to cater specifically to the needs of the semiconductor test industry, Advantest and NXP approached ASU with their vision, receiving an enthusiastic response.
Raghu Maddali, senior director of test engineering at NXP and one of the course’s original developers, emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry and academia, stating, “This course is a great example of what can happen when there’s a true collaboration between industry and academia. It came to fruition in a relatively short time, thanks to the dedication and commitment of all involved.”
To ensure the success of the course, both Advantest and NXP contributed not only their expertise but also valuable resources. Advantest provided a cutting-edge V93000 SoC test system, which was installed at ASU Research Park in Tempe. Experts from NXP and Advantest’s engineering teams volunteered as lab supervisors, guiding students through practical experiments designed to reinforce classroom concepts and familiarize them with an industry-leading ATE (Automatic Test Equipment) platform.
Advantest supplied a V93000 C Class test system to ASU for use by students enrolled in the course
Course professor Sule Ozev, Ph.D., a seasoned educator at ASU, expressed her enthusiasm for building the curriculum from scratch with the assistance of Advantest’s application engineering team. She stated, “It’s exciting to be part of a program that will provide the semiconductor industry with a new generation of much-needed test engineers.”
Offered through ASU’s School of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, which falls within the prestigious Fulton Schools of Engineering, the RF test course delves into current production test schemes for mixed-signal and RF circuits. It covers topics such as the economics of production testing, recent research techniques to reduce test costs, defining test conditions and flows, optimizing test programs, interpreting measurement data, identifying manufacturing issues and automating the testing process.
Paul Hirsch, senior global account manager at Advantest, emphasized the remarkable journey that began as an idea between colleagues and transformed into a tangible means of providing real-world training. He stated, “What started with an idea shared between two colleagues quickly blossomed into a tangible means of providing real-world training that will help prepare students for high-demand positions while further supporting our industry and Arizona’s economy.”
With a significant presence in Arizona, both Advantest and NXP are deeply committed to the region. They will continue supporting the course and potentially contribute to future additions to the program, further solidifying their dedication to fostering industry-academia collaboration and driving Arizona’s semiconductor industry forward.
Photos courtesy of Advantest
