DECAPSULATION

Electronic packaging encompasses a huge array of sizes, designs, styles and materials. Gaining access to the chip inside - a technique known as decapsulation - is necessary for many reasons including electrical testing, counterfeit prevention, bond wire pull testing, assuring radiation hard devices with heavy ion testing, photonic and thermal microscopy for failure analysis or competitive analysis.

MECHANICAL DECAPSULATION

Precision Milling and Grinding methods provide the most accurate means of removing electronic packaging materials with the highest circuit survivability. ULTRA TEC provides a range of mechanical decapsulation systems for all budgets.

PRE-CAVITATION

The initial removal of bulk material from the package is typically known as pre-cavitation.

Depending on the package type, chemical decapsulation may work well for the entire decapsulation. However, survivability and straighter, better defined etch walls are achievable with mechanical methods. The process must be stopped at a finite distance above the die to maintain electrical integrity.  ASAP-1 products are market-tested for pre-cavitation down to a few microns of remaining encapsulant.

It is not possible to uncover the bond wires using a single process. Use of Tunnel Decap can mitigate this and make the bond wires more easily obtainable.  

END-POINT METHODS

Creating access points in IC's has traditionally required iterative guesswork to reach target. Packaging non-uniformity is problematic both for chemical and laser decap techniques, but can be easily accommodated in mechanical decap. Use of electronic end-pointing techniques allow for repeatable thinning with a resolution of less than 1 micron, and remove the need for the engineer to 'stop and look' multiple times during the process. Previously-exposed areas can be masked to allow for a new, typically smaller, area to be exposed.

Recent advantages in software have taken electronic end-pointing to a new level of user-friendliness with the addition of closed-loop settable Trip-Points. Automatic Trip-Points may be set for position and pressure, in addition to capacitance.

It is also possible to decapsulate larger boards and modules. More details in the summary video below.


FINAL DECAPSULATION

Pre-cavitation can assist in the selection and ease of Final Decapsulation with plasma or chemical methods.

Manual acid decap methods (using eye-dropper and hot plate) provide a comprehensive means of fully decapsulating plastic-packaged components. However, to maintain functional circuitry after the removal of encapsulant materials it is often necessary to use decapsulation sequences and recipes that stay within temperature limits and do not corrode or oxidize bond wires.

MANY REASONS FOR CHIP ACCESS

The use of mechanical decapsulation equipment is crucial for Chip Off techniques in DIGITAL FORENSICS

QC and QA checks are also required to check for part integrity and anti-counterfeit requirements. Many methods exist to decapsulate the array of packages - no one size fits all!

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Our Solutions Include...

  • ASAP-1® IN SITU

    5-Axis CNC Mill for Selected Area Sample Preparation
    • IN SITU RST Upgrade – No tilt/curve translation errors – single footprint solution
    • Adaptive 3D Mesh & Curve Mapping
    • Import Overlays – use X-RAY, C-SAM images to improve targeting
    • Two RST Versions available-  NIR  (≥10 microns) and VIS (≥ 10 nm) for ultra-thinning
    • High-Def Digital Cameras — all native 4K (UHD)
    • Option for (up to) 32” Vision Monitor
    • Program by Touch, Mouse/Keyboard or REMOTELY
    Learn More Quote Select options
  • ASAP-1® IPS

    Digital Selected Area Preparation System
    • Accurately decaps, thins & polishes
    • die, package, wafer and board-level
    • Live Process Video
    • Touchscreen with physical joystick & encoders
    • Full 100 x 100 mm Stage area
    • X, Y and Z axes all have deep sub-micron accuracy
    • Floating Head provides a true polishing action
    Learn More Quote Select options
  • Blue Mill

    Milling, Chip-off and IC Pre-Cavitation Machine
    • Complete Solution – NO COMPUTER REQUIRED!
    • No programming or ‘G-Coding’ experience required
    • Great milling results for users of all experience levels
    • Built to last – heavy-duty solid steel welded cabinet – with powder coat finish
    • Cold Chip-off for Digital Forensics of NAND Flash
    • Extremely Compact Footprint
    • For the budget conscious user who needs industry-proven results
    Learn More Quote Select options

Our Decapsulation Products Include

  • ASAP-1® IN SITU

    5-Axis CNC Mill for Selected Area Sample Preparation
    • IN SITU RST Upgrade – No tilt/curve translation errors – single footprint solution
    • Adaptive 3D Mesh & Curve Mapping
    • Import Overlays – use X-RAY, C-SAM images to improve targeting
    • Two RST Versions available-  NIR  (≥10 microns) and VIS (≥ 10 nm) for ultra-thinning
    • High-Def Digital Cameras — all native 4K (UHD)
    • Option for (up to) 32” Vision Monitor
    • Program by Touch, Mouse/Keyboard or REMOTELY
    Learn More Quote Select options
  • ASAP-1® IPS

    Digital Selected Area Preparation System
    • Accurately decaps, thins & polishes
    • die, package, wafer and board-level
    • Live Process Video
    • Touchscreen with physical joystick & encoders
    • Full 100 x 100 mm Stage area
    • X, Y and Z axes all have deep sub-micron accuracy
    • Floating Head provides a true polishing action
    Learn More Quote Select options
  • Blue Mill

    Milling, Chip-off and IC Pre-Cavitation Machine
    • Complete Solution – NO COMPUTER REQUIRED!
    • No programming or ‘G-Coding’ experience required
    • Great milling results for users of all experience levels
    • Built to last – heavy-duty solid steel welded cabinet – with powder coat finish
    • Cold Chip-off for Digital Forensics of NAND Flash
    • Extremely Compact Footprint
    • For the budget conscious user who needs industry-proven results
    Learn More Quote Select options