Micro-Line

The μ-Line (Micro-Line) is a wafer post-processing and test facility tailored for next generation defense microelectronics applications.

Solder Sphere Automatic Shear Testing Tool

Wafer Post Processing

The μ-Line facility for semiconductor wafer post-processing provides Northrop Grumman with an assured source for the development and production of critical microelectronics packaging technologies. Products processed at the μ-Line will serve as essential building blocks to some of the world’s most advanced radio frequency (RF) and electro-optic infrared (EO/IR) defense systems.

lab facility for semiconductor wafer post-processing

Capabilities

Wafer Bumping

  • Dielectric passivation, underbump metallization, and solder bumping processes for 100 mm to 300 mm semiconductor wafers
  • Bumping processes include solder ball transfer and solder-capped copper pillars with tin-lead alloys

Dicing

  • Mechanical saw dicing, thinning, and polishing
  • Die-level laser marking, picking, and sorting
display of multiple microchips

Advanced Inspection & Metrology

  • Full-wafer 2D/3D automated optical inspection for physical defect tracking and yield mapping
  • Plating bath and solder alloy chemistry analysis, and wafer-level bump shear for process and material quality control

Wafer Testing

  • Electrical probing/testing for unbumped wafers, bumped wafers, or bumped die up to 300 mm diameter
  • Test yield tracking integrated with physical yield/defect mapping for overall die yield screening

In the News

lab facility for semiconductor wafer post-processing

Northrop Grumman Establishes New Microelectronics Packaging Facility for Next-Generation Defense Applications

Northrop Grumman logo

Advanced Integration Interconnection and Fabrication Growth for Domestic SOTA Radio Frequency Gallium Nitride (Starry Nite)