High-performance illumination for semiconductor inspection and metrology
LED technology isn’t just for the life sciences, but many industrial inspection and metrology applications can also benefit from:
- Stability: Irradiance declines over the lifetime of a mercury or metal halide lamp, whereas LEDs are much more stable over time.
- Control: LEDs can be easily controlled electronically, including through software, allowing seamless integration into the complete inspection system.
- Speed: Electronic control is fast, with triggering is in the order of micro-seconds, increasing inspection times and therefore the throughput of the inspection workflow.
- Up-time: Lamps frequently need replacing, whereas LEDs are long-lived. This maximises up-time of the system in the inspection workflow.
- No speckling: Unlike lasers, LEDs do not produce coherent light, which eliminates speckling (random interference patterns). The speckle-free illumination provided by LEDs ensures clearer and more reliable imaging.
- Safety and the environment: Mercury in lamps is hazardous to people and the environment. In addition to this, LEDs are more energy efficient and emit much less heat.
One area CoolLED illumination technology is becoming popular is in semiconductor inspection. To keep ahead of the curve on what the industry needs from LED illumination technology, we like to get out and about and immerse ourselves in the varied applications – and when it comes to semiconductors, what better way to do this than at one of the world’s largest semiconductor platforms – SEMICON Europa.
Greg Perry (left) and Dr Sam Hamilton (right) visit SEMICON Europa to explore how the latest LED light source technology can meet the rigorous demands of today’s semiconductor industry
Having taken place in Munich, Germany, in November this year, SEMICON Europa is Europe’s leading platform for the semiconductor and microelectronics supply chain. Themed “Innovation and Collaboration: Powering Sustainable Growth,” the programme included a range of topics from sustainability to workforce challenges, alongside the debut of the III-V Compound Summit to explore next-gen semiconductors.
CoolLED’s Optical Engineer Dr Sam Hamilton, and Business Development Manager Greg Perry took a trip to the vibrant city of Munich to connect with industry leaders and explore how the latest LED light source technology can meet the rigorous demands of today’s semiconductor industry. During their visit, it became clear that numerous organisations still rely on traditional bulb-based light sources. These conversations provided valuable insights into the precise requirements for semiconductor inspection lighting and highlighted the growing interest in transitioning to LEDs.
With our expertise in customised LED solutions, CoolLED is well-equipped to deliver on these needs, offering unmatched performance, reliability, and support. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead and eager to partner with the industry in driving this essential upgrade to LEDs.
If you have any questions or want to find out more, please contact us.
Collaboration Through the CoolLED OEM Network
The CoolLED OEM Network is designed to connect companies who offer complementary solutions for original equipment manufacturers.
This network brings together expertise in illumination, automation, optics, and more, enabling OEMs to build integrated, high-performance systems tailored to their needs.
By combining our cutting-edge technologies, customers gain access to a seamless, customisable solution that addresses every aspect of their research and manufacturing workflows.
