July 15, 2011 – On Wednesday evening, the SEMI folks had a nice appreciation reception for the many volunteers who serve on planning committees and standards groups and provide other services to the SEMI organization and to the industry. Well, you’re welcome, SEMI. It was nice to be appreciated.

At each SEMICON, there are typically one or two products that attract my attention and possibly even motivate me to some level of excitement. One such catalyst this year was Vantage Technology, a Campbell, CA startup that measures particles in flowing fluids. Ho hum, you say, it’s been done and we know that our CMP slurry is in spec, or that our high-purity lines are clean. Perhaps. And maybe you’ve reached those conclusions fairly because that is what your data has told you to believe — you take your samples periodically, dilute them 1,000