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What is AEC-Q100?

The qualification standard for reliability testing of automotive integrated circuits, defined by the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC). It has operating temperature grades: Grade 1 is −40 to 125 °C and Grade 0 is −40 to 150 °C. Discrete semiconductors are covered by AEC-Q101 and passive components by AEC-Q200.

Japanese name: AEC-Q100

AEC-Q100 appears in 7 practice questions across 3 topics, including Automotive Semiconductors and Functional Safety, Reliability, Testing and inspection.

Field: Automotive Semiconductors and Functional Safety

Try it: questions about AEC-Q100

In AEC-Q100, the reliability qualification standard for automotive ICs, which ambient temperature range is specified for operating temperature Grade 1?

  1. A−40 to 85 °C
  2. B−40 to 125 °C
  3. C−40 to 150 °C
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. −40 to 125 °C

AEC-Q100 grades denote ambient temperature ranges; the smaller the number, the higher the upper limit. Grade 0 is −40 to 150 °C, Grade 1 is −40 to 125 °C, Grade 2 is −40 to 105 °C and Grade 3 is −40 to 85 °C. −40 to 150 °C is the most stringent, Grade 0, and −40 to 85 °C is the Grade 3 range. Because self-heating makes the chip's junction temperature higher than the ambient temperature, thermal design must also account for that difference.

Which correctly pairs AEC-Q100, AEC-Q101 and AEC-Q200, the qualification standards for automotive electronic components, with the components they mainly cover?

  1. AQ100: integrated circuits (ICs); Q101: discrete semiconductors such as diodes and transistors; Q200: passive components such as resistors and capacitors
  2. BQ100: passive components; Q101: integrated circuits (ICs); Q200: discrete semiconductors such as diodes and transistors
  3. CQ100: discrete semiconductors; Q101: passive components; Q200: integrated circuits (ICs)
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. Q100: integrated circuits (ICs); Q101: discrete semiconductors such as diodes and transistors; Q200: passive components such as resistors and capacitors

The AEC standards are divided by component type. Integrated circuits such as microcontrollers and power ICs fall under AEC-Q100; discrete semiconductors such as diodes, power MOSFETs and IGBTs fall under AEC-Q101; and passive components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors and crystal resonators fall under AEC-Q200. Because the components differ in structure and failure behavior, the test items and conditions also differ. For example, automotive multilayer ceramic capacitors use AEC-Q200-compliant types.

AEC-Q100 in the explanations

Questions that mention AEC-Q100 (7)

  1. In AEC-Q100, the reliability qualification standard for automotive ICs, which ambient temperature range is specified for operating temperature Grade 1?
  2. Which correctly pairs AEC-Q100, AEC-Q101 and AEC-Q200, the qualification standards for automotive electronic components, with the components they mainly cover?
  3. For an automotive semiconductor, which is the correct way to proceed when you want to change the manufacturing fab or the materials used?
  4. For automotive semiconductors, what is the main reason for testing not only at room temperature but also at high and low temperatures?
  5. Which typical reliability test evaluates lifetime and failure rate by operating products at high temperature for a long time?
  6. Which standard is widely used as the reliability qualification standard for automotive integrated circuits?
  7. For the same kind of semiconductor, which correctly describes the reliability levels required for consumer and automotive use?

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Related terms

ESD (electrostatic discharge) Latch-up ISO 26262 ASIL (Automotive Safety Integrity Level) CAN bus Diagnostic coverage ECU (electronic control unit) FTTI (fault tolerant time interval) HARA (hazard analysis and risk assessment) HAST (highly accelerated stress test)

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