Wafer sorting and binning classifies wafers or individual dies based on electrical test results into categories reflecting their quality, speed, or functionality. Wafer sort (probe): Test every die on wafer at probe station before dicing. Identify good and bad dies. Mark bad dies with ink dot or in electronic map. Die binning: Classify each die into bins based on test results. Bin 1 = fully good. Other bins = partial good, speed grades, or fail categories. Speed binning: Dies that pass all functional tests but at different speeds sorted into performance grades (fast, typical, slow). Different bins may be sold as different products. Yield: Wafer sort yield = (good dies / total dies) * 100%. Primary manufacturing metric. Test program: Automated test program applies test vectors, measures responses, and classifies each die per bin criteria. Probe card: Array of tiny probes contacts die bond pads simultaneously. Must align precisely to pad locations. Parametric testing: During sort, parametric measurements (Vt, Idsat, leakage) collected for statistical process monitoring. Pass/fail criteria: Specifications define limits for each test. Any out-of-spec measurement assigns die to fail or downgrade bin. Ink marking: Traditional method to physically mark bad dies. Modern fabs use electronic wafer maps instead. Multi-site probing: Test multiple dies simultaneously for throughput. 4-32 sites common. Cost: Wafer sort testing significant cost component. Test time per die x number of dies = total test cost.
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