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IC temperature ratings ?

A

Adam Seychell

Jan 1, 1970
0
Many semiconductors are offered in different temperature ratings. For
example an IC may be sold in "Commercial" 0 to +70°C, or "Industrial"
-40 to +85°C, or "Military" -55 to +125°C.
Why does the cost go up as the specified temperature range increases ?

It the chip manufactured using a different process ?

Or is the process identical but higher temperature rated devices
undergo more vigorous testing ?

Or is it all a scam run by the semiconductor industry to get more
money from customers ?

Adam
 
M

mdp

Jan 1, 1970
0
Many things can contribute to a device having a higher price and temperature
range. Level of testing, packaging, binning (passing higher performance
tests allows it to be sold (guaranteed) as higher performing - a common one
is clock speed), etc. I would not characterize it as a scam. Higher prices
are generally consistent with higher performance.
 
J

John Larkin

Jan 1, 1970
0
Many semiconductors are offered in different temperature ratings. For
example an IC may be sold in "Commercial" 0 to +70°C, or "Industrial"
-40 to +85°C, or "Military" -55 to +125°C.
Why does the cost go up as the specified temperature range increases ?

It the chip manufactured using a different process ?

Hardly ever.
Or is the process identical but higher temperature rated devices
undergo more vigorous testing ?

Usually not. The wide temp devices usually have better measured
room-temp performance, so can be guaranteed (ie, expected) to meet
specs over a wider temp range.
Or is it all a scam run by the semiconductor industry to get more
money from customers ?

Well, some folks' parts (A***** D******, M****) are suspiciously often
only available in the more expensive flavor. I don't know if that's
deliberate.

John
 
N

Norm Dresner

Jan 1, 1970
0
Adam Seychell said:
Many semiconductors are offered in different temperature ratings. For
example an IC may be sold in "Commercial" 0 to +70°C, or "Industrial"
-40 to +85°C, or "Military" -55 to +125°C.
Why does the cost go up as the specified temperature range increases ?

It the chip manufactured using a different process ?

I can only comment on differences between Commercial and Military parts.
There are (some) different manufacturing processes
For example, Commercial DIPs are usually plastic packages but Military
ones are Ceramic. Much difference in manufacturing cost. Internally, leads
and methods of attachment to die pads may be different too to accommodate
larger temperature range by using materials with different coefficients of
expansion.
Also, MIL-spec parts are required to undergo more rigorous, more
time-consuming, and hence more expensive testing than commercial parts are
subjected to.

Norm
 
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