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What are the different types of AEC standards?

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Editorial Team - everything PE

Oct 3, 2024

AEC Standards, or Automotive Electronics Council standards, are quality and reliability standards, which are widely accepted and specifically developed for electronic components used in the automotive industry. These standards were revised by the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC), which was established in the 1990s by Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors. AEC standards ensure reliable electronic components that are suitable for use in the harsh automotive environment without additional testing. This guarantees high quality in automotive electronics, which is critical for vehicle safety, performance, and longevity. These automotive grades are developed by the AEC's Component Technical Committee, which then publishes the automotive standards and technical documents on the AEC website.

Also Read: What is AEC-Q200 Qualification Standard?


Standards
Details
AEC-Q100

Qualification requirements for integrated circuits (ICs) used in automotive applications.

AEC-Q101

Qualification requirements for discrete semiconductors, such as diodes, transistors, and MOSFETs, which are used in automotive environments.

AEC-Q102

Qualification requirements for optoelectronic components like LEDs, phototransistors, and photodiodes, which are used in automotive applications.

AEC-Q103

Qualification requirements for MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) sensors, covering devices like accelerometers and gyroscopes, which are used in automotive applications.

AEC-Q104

Qualification requirements for Multi-Chip Modules (MCM), which include electronic devices consisting of multiple integrated circuits enclosed in a single package.

AEC-Q105

Qualification requirements for passive electronic components that are used in automotive applications such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors.

AEC-Q200

Qualification standard for passive electronic components that are used in automotive applications. Defines temperature grades for passive components (Grade 0 to Grade 4)

Advantages

  • Reliability and Quality Assurance: Implementing AEC Standards reduces the risk of failure and improves vehicle safety.
  • Extends Operating Conditions: AEC standards reduce the risk of component failure which improves its lifetime and reduces overall maintenance cost which helps in sustaining automotive brand reputation.

Disadvantages

  • Increases Time to Market: Electronic Components are subjected to several testing procedures for AEC qualification which can delay the introduction of new technologies and products into the automotive market space.
  • Limits Innovation: Usage of innovative materials or processes may require additional testing thereby hindering the adoption of innovative solutions in the automotive industry.

Revisions

AEC-Q100: Revision added on new stress tests, such as latch-up tests, electrostatic discharge (ESD) test requirements, and advanced electrothermal analysis while accommodating recent automotive use cases, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

AEC-Q101: Revisions include updates to power cycling, high-temperature gate bias, and humidity testing. 

AEC-Q200: Revisions dedicated to expanding tests for covering higher voltage requirements and improved thermal cycling.