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Overview
KAI is an industrial research center in
Villach, Austria, founded in 2006 and
owned by Infineon Technologies Austria
AG. We are focused on power electronics
reliability, test concept development, ad-
vanced semiconductor materials research,
statistical lifetime modeling, data science
and multi-physics FEM simulation. Our
proven experience in the coordination of
interdisciplinary research projects is com-
plemented by an international network
of industrial and academic partners.
Key Research Areas
•
Physical understanding of microscopic
defects and their role in power semi-
conductor reliability
•
Temperature dependent mechanical
properties of metals and interfaces for
stress-optimized multilayer structures
•
Analysis and prevention of semicon-
ductor surface corrosion mechanisms
•
Thermo-mechanical fatigue robustness
of power device interconnect struc-
tures under cyclic stress
•
Electro-thermal and mechanical device
and system analysis with state of the
art FEM simulation
•
Application relevant stress test con-
cepts and development of automated
real-time test systems
•
Verification methodology, functional
safety and failure rate estimation
•
Application demonstrators and novel
design solutions for power systems
•
Application of Data Analytics and Ma-
chine Learning to support decision mak-
ing in semiconductor manufacturing
Main Competences
Our scope of research covers all aspects
of power semiconductor performance
and reliability in the application fields of
automotive and industrial power conver-
sion. We investigate the newest discrete
and integrated power devices, advanced
materials, cutting-edge technologies and
applications.
We develop new methods for applica-
tion-relevant stress testing of power de-
vices, from the latest generation of auto-
motive smart switches to novel SiC and
GaN power semiconductors for efficient
power conversion, to identify known and
new failure modes and find underlying
physical degradation mechanisms.
In close cooperation with our academ-
ic research partners we have developed
strong competences in understanding
and quantifying relevant physical fatigue
and damage effects, providing models
and parameters for the numerical simula-
tion and a mathematical formulation of
lifetime models.
Based on a profound understanding of
material and device ageing and degrada-
tion, we are able to propose advanced
solutions in technology and product de-
sign, as well as new methods to veri-
fy the improved reliability of innovative
power semiconductor technologies and
products.
KAI Kompetenzzentrum
Automobil- und Industrieelektronik GmbH
