Machine vision systems manufacturer Cognex Corp. in Natick, Mass., has signed a deal with Nikon Corp. in Tokyo to supply the camera manufacturer with machine vision systems for integration into Nikon's latest line of wafer steppers.
Wafer steppers transfer ultrafine circuitry patterns onto silicon wafers during the manufacture of semiconductor chips. Nikon's steppers will incorporate Cognex's 4000 Series machine vision systems, which will ensure that the wafers are positioned to submicron accuracy.