The Importance of Aging Simulation in IC Design

To ensure reliability, the need for corresponding aging models is increasing: Electronics reliability has been an important quality criterion in the automotive sector and in industrial automation for years. Electronics in this sector have to achieve product lifetimes of 10+ years under partially harsh environmental conditions. But the reliability of electronics is also becoming more important in other fields. For example, end customers now keep consumer products longer, so a certain longevity is also expected in this area - albeit less strictly than in the automotive and industrial sectors. To achieve this reliability, it must be ensured that a system continues to fulfill the required performance even after a specific operating period. If electronic circuits and systems are operated for longer periods, they have to be replaced less often, which in turn supports the general trend towards greater sustainability.