Importance of AEC-Q standards to qualify Electrical PPAPs

Automotive Electronic Council qualification (AEC-Q) standard, which is derived by AEC component technical committee to electrical components and their qualification requirement. AEC-Q is US based which set these standards to be used for automotive applications. Electrical components need to compliant with qualification standard that is drafted by AEC based on electrical component type.

Technical team for automotive application classifies electrical components as Integrated Circuits, Discrete Semiconductors, and Passive Components. These three classified components are taken to high level qualification testing such as Stress Test Qualification.

AEC-Qualification standards are categories into AEC-Q100, AEC-Q101 and AEC-Q200 to electrical components. These three standards are commonly used in automotive sectors.

1. ACE-Q 100 represents to Integrated Circuits.
2. AEC-Q 101 represents to Discrete Semiconductors.
3. AEC-Q 200 represents to Passive Components.

Component Classification Maximum Withstand Voltage

Human Body Model (HBM):

1. H0 ≤ 250 V
2. H1A > 250 V to ≤ 500 V
3. H1B > 500 V to ≤ 1000 V
4. H1C > 1000 V to ≤ 2000 V
5. H2 > 2000 V to ≤ 4000 V
6. H3A > 4000 V to ≤ 8000 V
7. H3B > 8000 V

ESD Charge Device Model (CDM):

1. C0 ≤ 125 V
2. C1 > 125 V to ≤ 250 V
3. C2 > 250 V to ≤ 500 V
4. C3 > 500 V to ≤ 750 V
5. C4 > 750 V to ≤ 1000 V
6. C5 > 1000 V

Package Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL):

1. Level 1 – Unlimited (30℃ less than 85%RH)
2. Level 2 – 1 year
3. Level 2A – 4 weeks
4. Level 3 – 168 hours (7 days)
5. Level 4 – 72 hours (3 days)
6. Level 5 – 48 hours (2 days)
7. Level 5a – 24 hours (1 day)
8. Level 6 – Mandatory Bake before use

ACE-Q Test Criteria for ESD HBM, CDM and MSL:

1. ACE-Q 100 (Integrated Circuits)

Body Model (HBM): Maximum withstand voltage level 2KV (H2) or better.

Device Model (CDM): Maximum withstand voltage level 500V to 750V (C3) or better.

sensitivity level (MSL): Depends on Components (Level: 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4, 5, 5a, 6)

2. AEC-Q 101 (Discrete Semiconductors)

Body Model (HBM): Maximum withstand voltage level 500V to 1000V (H1A) or better.

Device Model (CDM): Maximum withstand voltage level 500V (C2) or better.

sensitivity level (MSL): Depends on Components (Level: 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4, 5, 5a, 6)

3. AEC-Q 200 (Passive Components)

Body Model (HBM): Maximum withstands voltage level 500V to 8000V (or better).

Device Model (CDM): Not applicable

sensitivity level (MSL): Depends on Components (Level: 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4, 5, 5a, 6)

Electrical PPAP package should contain the Material/Performance test result, which is incorporate with AEC-Q standards. AEC qualified standard report shall be included with the detail of ESD (Electrostatic discharge) test result and MSL (Moisture sensitivity level) to all classified electrical component. The ESD has the two types of simulation model as HBM (human-body model) and CDM (Charge Device) Model, which is under tested before and after ESD at room and hot temperature in the range of acceptance criteria. HBM, CDM and MSL has the specific range to select from the AEC-Q standard test report.