Robustness validation

At the beginning of the 1970s a relatively high failure rates of electronic components were tolerable in automobiles, because they replaced mechanical components, which had a much higher failure rate. The underlying failure rates of bimetallic flashers were 10% per year and the lifetime of mechanical ignition contacts at 10,000 miles. With the increasing number of semiconductors in control units, and the introduction of the first safety systems (ABS) in the 70s had to be addressed. Already in 1975, the General Specification for IC's in Automotive Applications [1] as the first SAE Recommendation was issued, the 1978 SAE standard [2] was declared and adopted by major semiconductor manufacturers.

The establishment of the Automotive Electronic Council (AEC) 1994 by Ford, Chrysler, GM - Delco was also the Starting point for the AEC-Q100 qualification process,[3] was based on the SAE standards.

Due to the development of automotive and the ever-increasing complexity of vehicles associated with the demands for lower error rates of this qualification process, this process to decide by nonspecific tests, to cover a wide range of possible failure mechanisms, but only on the functionality of the component is out of date. In order to make statements about the robustness AEC Q100 can be replaced robustness validation.

In April 2007, the Handbook for Robustness Validation of Semiconductor Devices in Automotive Applications [4] with international cooperation from SAE, ZVEI, AEC and JSAE (Japanese Society of Automotive Engineers) was published, in which the guidelines for the contemporary validation of semiconductor components in the automotive applications were compiled. Companies were involved in this from the entire supply chain in the field of automotive electronics. In addition to vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, a large group of semiconductor manufacturers, this concept of skill is complemented with a current database. This so-called Knowledge Matrix [5] is a list of currently known failures includes mechanisms with causes, error methods and further information.

Robustness Validation is used to assess the reliability of electronic components by comparing the specific requirements of the product with the actual "real life values". With the introduction of this methodology, a specific list of requirements (usually based on the OEM) is required. The requirements for the product can be defined in the environmental requirements (mission profiles) and the functional requirements (use cases).

Today's standard qualification procedures for electronic components, assemblies and components for the automotive industry is based on the use of standardized tests at the end of the product development of parts and components. In contrast, Robustness Validation is a process that includes the entire product development process, as well as mass production. The qualification of the components based on the robustness analysis is thus implicit. With the introduction of robustness validation, priorities are focused on the development process again. The aim is to reduce the construction error's during the later phases of the project, which means front loading measures in the product development time line process.

It is necessary that the requirements from the product to the next level of the value chain be broken down in order to meet specific statements about possible vulnerabilities. Back in the early phases of the project is the knowledge (e.g., from knowledge bases Lessons Learned) gained from previous projects in order to avoid known vulnerabilities. Using the analysis of the changes of the new product and the use of different methods, such as REM, RBFM or design reviews, new potential vulnerabilities are identified early in order to make potential risks

In addition to the publication of the Handbook for Robustness Validation for semiconductor devices in 2007 the ZVEI in 2008, published the manual [6] in which this procedure is described for the development and qualification of electronic control units in automobiles. There are also other activities in the field of sensors and electronic systems in the vehicle.

• Homepage ZVEI
• Robustness Validation (ZVEI Internet)
• Knowledge-Matrix Semiconductor
• Knowledge-Matrix EE-Modules
• SAE J1879 Robustness Validation Standard
• Press review Robustness Validation
• Homepage Automotive Electronics Council