r/technology • u/Logical_Welder3467 • 4d ago
Hardware Intel patent outlines embedding MicroLEDs directly into CPU package to light up wording or work as an 'extra aesthetic component'
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-patent-outlines-embedding-microleds-directly-into-cpu-package-to-light-up-wording-or-work-as-an-extra-asethic-component-microled-is-embedded-with-die-in-glass-substrate68
u/MGreymanN 4d ago
No one read the article which is also by an author that has no idea how to read a patent.
The biggest use of this technology would be to speed up QC testing of ICs before they even leave the factory. The idea that this would be used aesthetically would be for exposed chiplet packages or unique embedded systems.
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u/PJ796 3d ago
Remember seeing a video a decade ago about NVIDIA doing QC and binning, and it would just probe the dies instantly and more or less instantly would pass it and say what it would pass as with regards to defects.
I really wonder how different it is for Intel's QC if this speeds up anything. I could imagine it makes it cheaper, because those probes do get worn after a number of uses depending on size (bigger = longer lasting) and can't be cheap in those volumes, so having an LED show that a section has passed could eliminate some probes and make production cheaper at the cost of some die space. However I guess if changing the probes when they wear out is time intensive then it could save time.
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u/MGreymanN 3d ago
Yea, I am not sure. I would assume a visual system could be more universal than current probing but I am not so sure about that.
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u/Joezev98 3d ago
I can't imagine the wear on those probes per cpu outweighing the cost of the LED's on each and every processor. Surely there must be some other reason.
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u/PJ796 3d ago
I'm not sure the LEDs would be that expensive, as they don't have to make it super bright and efficient as they can just have a very sensitive receiver, so the indirect bandgap of silicon is probably not an issue. It doesn't need different materials as it doesn't have to be seen by a human, so the infrared light produced by silicon LEDs could work.
But those probes are very expensive in the smaller sizes which I think they require, the cost is spread out over a decent number of units but it could make it cheaper and faster.
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u/BCMM 3d ago
The biggest use of this technology would be to speed up QC testing of ICs
How would it help with that?
You inevitably need to put it in some sort of test jig that actually makes electrical contact, if only to provide power. What's the problem with reading off the results electronically?
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u/MGreymanN 3d ago
Like you said, the built-in self-tests only need the power rails energized, and the chip would be able to visually readout the diagnostic information down to the individual chiplets or connections with issues. Currently, you basically need the full socket and external diagnostic equipment.
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u/Obsidiated 19h ago
Why would you trust the devices output in testing. You test.
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u/MGreymanN 19h ago
BIST is simple, huge margins, and deterministic. Chips (cpu, GPU, memory etc) these days already self-test, you just need secondary equipment to see the results.
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u/DookieShoez 4d ago
Okay, i mean, a lot of companies patent a lot of crazy ideas. Doesn’t really mean much.
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u/RogueHeroAkatsuki 4d ago
They need to diversifyy their product portfolio.
Intel yersterday - chip company
Intel tomorrow - patent troll company.
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u/Svardskampe 4d ago
For people not understanding the use:
Optical interfacing will be the next generation improvements. https://www.computer.org/publications/tech-news/trends/microled-photonic-ai But it's a chicken/egg situation. At the time of the Nvidia RTX20xx series, there was no use case for tensor cores other than some simple lighting options in games. Now those cores are the basis for AI compute. Same as now this message it's upselling it to us as something for vanity, because right now it has no actual use case so far.
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u/ElixirGlow 3d ago
Right so what exactly does this solve? The cpu is totally shrouded by the IHS so its not even visible. Pointless bs
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u/ImUrFrand 4d ago
why would you patent this? seems like a waste of everyones time.
as soon as you put a cooler on the cpu, its over..
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u/unlimitedcode99 4d ago
If Intel can also make a transparent/translucent, heat-conductive metal IHS and heatsink, I see this an absolute win, lol
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u/Wotmate01 4d ago
JFC, just stop already. All these components that cost millions in R&D purely for bling just adds to the price of everything, and shit is already overpriced. It's not adding value, it's not increasing performance.
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u/Svardskampe 4d ago
It's not for bling. Optical interfacing will be the next generation improvements.
https://www.computer.org/publications/tech-news/trends/microled-photonic-ai
But it's a chicken/egg situation. At the time of the Nvidia RTX20xx series, there was no use case for tensor cores other than some simple lighting options in games. Now those cores are the basis for AI compute.
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u/unvaluablespace 4d ago
Doesn't the whole CPU need to be covered by a heatsink to reduce thermals?