EPP Europe Interview with Dr. Subodh Kulkarni at Productronica Germany 2019

Anja Lange from EPP Europe discusses with Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, President and CEO, CyberOptics, about the SQ3000 Multi-Function system, MRS Technology, and the merging of semiconductor and SMT industries from the 3D AOI Arena at Productronica in Munich, Germany

AJ: In the 3D AOI Arena, I am here with CyberOptics CEO, Dr. Subodh Kulkarni. You are presenting your newest 3D AOI system, but it’s not just a 3D AOI system. It can also be used multi-functionally, what does that mean?

SK: What we mean by multi-functionality is that in addition to customers getting the benefit of using the system as 3D AOI system, they can choose to use the same system with a switch of software as a SPI system, as well as a coordinate measuring machine, CMM. So we call it an in-line CMM, SPI and AOI system. The value to the customer of course is they are getting more bang for the buck, and better return on their investment to do multiple things using the same system, depending on their individual needs and applications.

AJ: You also are talking about the MRS technology in the SQ3000, what is that?

SK: MRS stands for Multi-Reflection Suppression, it’s a digital, new technology, that is really as the name suggests. We are suppressing the noise that is generated when light goes through multiple reflections. Fundamentally, all of us who are doing AOI or SPI are doing some kind of triangulation technology and we are all solving the same equations. Most of the competitors here are using analog technologies that are fairly old or more of a pattern that are like 30 year old technologies. MRS is a digital, new technology where we are putting pattern light down, and we are looking at the noise coming out from multiple reflections and we are mathematically suppressing the noise as the name suggests, Multiple Reflection Suppression, and that enhances your signal-to-noise ratio. The benefit to the end-user is higher resolution, higher accuracy and higher speed all at the same time. Image qualities you will see with MRS are significantly better than the image quality you will see with conventional 3D optical technologies. We are pretty proud and we have a unique proprietary position with MRS Technology right now.

AJ: Perfect and you also have the same products in the semiconductor industry, why is that, how does that work?

SK: That’s a great question. Fundamentally, the semiconductor industry and SMT industries are starting to merge, and more and more applications are going towards advanced packages. A good example is take your iPhone 11* and open it, and you don’t find a conventional PCB in it anymore. What you find is advanced packages on flexible modules, and that’s the direction the industry is very likely to move more and more, and that’s where you need these advanced technologies. Conventional technologies that are doing conventional AOI are no longer good for those advanced products and advanced packages, and that’s where you need the MRS algorithms, that’s where you need the separation of noise to be able to not only inspect but measure, so customers get the benefit of higher yield and higher productivity to control their processes better.

AJ: Perfect. Thank you very much for the interview and giving us the insights into CyberOptics.

SK: Thank you for your questions and interest.           

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