Mentor Graphics Enhances MicReD Industrial Power Tester with 4X Component Power Cycling and Thermal Testing Capabilities

WILSONVILLE, Ore., May 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) today announced  its next-generation MicReD® Industrial Power Tester 1500A product, which provides electronics components power cycling and thermal testing for up to 12 devices simultaneously. The MicReD Industrial Power Tester 1500A is the industry's only commercially available thermal testing product combining both power cycling and thermal transient structure function analysis for real-time failure-in-progress data for diagnostics.  Based on market feedback and the success of the MicReD Power Tester 1500A three-channel product, Mentor Graphics has enhanced the product to accommodate more device testing for greater productivity and lifecycle performance, which will benefit industries such as automotive systems, hybrid and electrical vehicles, trains, power generation and converters, and renewable energy products.

Reliability is a key concern in these industries that use high-power electronics, so accelerated testing of these modules through a lifetime of cycles (tens of thousands, potentially millions) is critical for the component supplier, the system supplier, and the OEM. Power components are used for applications where electrical energy is generated, converted, or controlled and where very high reliability is required during many years of constant operation.

"Advanced thermal management is crucial for the design of power modules and power electronics packages," said Chang-Sheng Chen, manager, power devices packaging technology department, Advanced Package Technology Division, Electronics and Opto-Electronics Research Laboratories at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). "Our partners use thinner and thermally more conductive TIMs, new substrate materials and new interconnect technologies to decrease thermal resistance and increase the lifetime of their products. Power cycling tests are required to gather information about the lifetime and possible failure modes of these new devices; however, in order to have reliable data, statistical analysis is important. The new MicReD Power Tester 1500A with 12 channels can increase the throughput of our power tester by four times, allowing us to finish our projects significantly faster."

The award-winning MicReD Industrial Power Tester 1500A can perform power cycling tests of metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and power diodes. Both power cycling and thermal transient measurements are conducted without needing to remove the components from the test environment.  Measurements of both top and bottom transistors in half-bridge structures can be achieved at the same time. The MicReD Power Tester 1500A provides a user-friendly touch-screen interface and can record a broad range of information during test, such as current, voltage and die temperature sensing, as well as detailed structure function analysis to record changes in the package's thermal structure. A technician or engineer is able to see the failure as it progresses and determine the exact time/cycle and cause.  This makes it an ideal platform for package development and quality checking of incoming parts before production.

"We are committed to serving the needs of our customers, particularly automotive and transportation customers, who have asked us to expand the productivity of the MicReD Industrial Power Tester 1500A," stated Roland Feldhinkel, general manager of the  Mechanical Analysis Division at Mentor Graphics. "Knowing that their electronic components will perform to optimum standards is crucial for their success. Using the MicReD Power Tester gives our customers added confidence by helping them develop and validate both electronic parts and batches of parts for manufacturing with greater performance reliability."

Product AvailabilityThe MicReD Industrial Power Tester 1500A with 12 channel capability is available today. Contact a Mentor Graphics sales representative or visit the company website for more information:  http://www.mentor.com/products/mechanical/micred/power-tester-1500a/

About Mentor GraphicsMentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months in excess of $1.24 billion. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.

(Mentor Graphics and MicReD are registered trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.)                               

For more information, please contact:Larry TodaMentor Graphics 503.685.1664[email protected]

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SOURCE Mentor Graphics Corporation