Circuit edit helps reduce time-to-market in the release of any electronic component. When the first articles produced don't conform to the intended design, modifications to the circuit must be identified and tested very quickly and cost-effectively. Re-making the advanced masks used in today's integrated circuit devices without a known, tested solution would be costly, and might require multiple iterations.
Circuit edit, using focused ion beam technology, allows device manufacturers to identify and correct problems within their component by breaking and making electrical connections at the nanoscale. In addition, Circuit Edit produces functional prototypes, which allows validation teams to continue product development in parallel with the production of corrected masks.
FEI's V600 family of tools are used to perform circuit edit applications.