Semiconductors

SEMICONDUCTORS ARTICLES



e Beam lithography crafts nano eggs with spin RAM potential at NIST

04/29/2011 

Collage of NIST "nano-eggs" -- simulated magnetic patterns in NIST's egg-shaped nanoscale magnets. Credit: Talbott/NIST.NIST researchers used electron-beam lithography to make thousands of nickel-iron magnets, each about 200nm in diameter and shaped like an ellipse. Even small distortions in magnet shape can lead to significant changes in magnetic properties.

MRS Day 4: Outside CMOS fabrication, but respecting boundaries

04/29/2011 

Michael A. Fury continues reporting from this year's MRS Spring meeting. Highlights from Day 4: NEMS and MEMS devices, organic electronics, deposition (ALD, CVD, and ED), and measuring stresses in Cu TSV.

Update from Japan: Renesas, SEH rebuild; TEPCO's power problems; travel tips

04/28/2011 

Longtime semiconductor exec Takeshi Hattori continues his reporting on the aftermath of the massive Japanese earthquake and tsunami: Updates on upcoming summertime electricity demand, Renesas and SEH restarting operations, and more travel tips to Japan.

ASM plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (ALD) ordered for HVM, new app

04/28/2011 

ASM International N.V. (NASDAQ: ASMI) received multiple system orders for its plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) reactor from a leading memory customer in Asia. The company also qualified a new PEALD oxide application with a memory manufacturer for the 2X nm node.

Ushio hands Gigaphoton EUV JV to Komatsu

04/27/2011 

By transferring all ownership in the litho source JV with Komatsu, Ushio and Gigaphoton can go thier separate ways with EUV source development.

MRS Day 2: The III-V future of CMOS, the return of spin-on low-k

04/27/2011 

Michael A. Fury continues reporting from this year's MRS Spring meeting, looking at second-day papers. Highlights: pushing III-V CMOS, the resurgence of spin-on low-k, work with nanomaterials (nanowires, graphene, nanotubes), and improvements in photovoltaics, LEDs, and printed electronics.

SanDisk 19nm fab tech ramps; volume by H2

04/27/2011 

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), flash memory card maker, announced a 64-gigabit (Gb), 2-bits-per-cell (X2) monolithic chip made on 19nm technology.

Asian semiconductor packaging specialist orders SPTS etch, PVD and CVD technologies for TSV

04/26/2011 

SPP Process Technology Systems (SPTS) won a multi-system order for its Sigma PVD, Omega Etch and Delta CVD wafer processing systems from a leading outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) provider in the Asia-Pacific region.

Imec CNT research: IITC preview

04/25/2011 

after barrier deposition and Cu fillImec researchers will present "Carbon nanotube interconnects: electrical characterization of 150nm CNT contacts with Cu damascene top contact" at IITC 2011. Dr. Marleen van der Veen, senior research scientist at imec discussed the research results and their significance.

Tool demand still high, amid a backend-frontend breakup

04/25/2011 

As SEMI's numbers for semiconductor manufacturing equipment climbed again in March, one slice of the data suggests that the backend-as-leading-cyclical-indicator wisdom we've been taught to follow may not be valid this time around.

Fabless IC leaders call US home

04/25/2011 

2010 was the first year that fabless company IC sales growth tracked behind the total IC market. Seven companies underperformed, and seven others stood out with big gains. IC Insights looks at the US dominance in fabless rankings, fabless growth through 2010, and more.

Brooks Automation sells Celestica its contract mfg biz, looks beyond semiconductor frontend markets

04/21/2011 

Brooks Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:BRKS) will sell its contract manufacturing business to Celestica Inc. for approximately $80 million in cash. Cash generated from this transaction will fund initiatives that leverage its existing technology capabilities, particularly into market sectors other than wafer frontend semiconductor capital equipment.

Semiconductor wafer handling benefits from precision movement of Aerotech AVS1000

04/21/2011 

Aerotech's AVS1000 series stages Aerotech's AVS1000 series stages suit applications that require positioning of large or heavy loads over very small incremental movements in elevation above a horizontal plane. A low profile and precise motion capability make these stages a fit for semiconductor manufacturing and inspection.

Kilopass begins NVM new product rollout with Itera, fabbed in 40nm logic CMOS

04/20/2011 

Kilopass Technology Inc., semiconductor logic non-volatile memory (NVM) intellectual property (IP) provider, unveiled Itera, an embedded multi-time programmable (MTP) NVM in 40nm.

BSE acquires secondary semiconductor equipment assets

04/20/2011 

Boston Semi Equipment acquired the assets of Asia Tech Corporation, launching BSE Tech LLC. BSE Tech will deliver pre-owned front end semiconductor manufacturing equipment and spare parts, technical capabilities and financial solutions from a larger facility, with added cleanroom space.

CEA Leti deploys EVG's litho, packaging tools for 300mm line

04/19/2011 

CEA-Leti has installed multiple EVG tools in its 300-mm cleanroom dedicated to R&D and prototyping for 3D integration applications. EVG's equipment will be used in 3D technology demonstrations for Leti's global customer base, as well as low-volume pilot production on 300mm wafers.

Picosun launches plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition source, records global sales

04/19/2011 

Picosun Oy has launched production of plasma enhanced ALD (PEALD) systems based on a highly advanced ion-free remote plasma source, Picoplasma. Various excited species such as oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen radicals with zero charge can be generated to broaden the range of ALD process chemistries.

STATS ChipPAC expands TSV service with mid end flow

04/19/2011 

STATS ChipPAC Ltd. (SGX-ST: STATSChP), semiconductor test and advanced packaging service provider, is expanding its 300mm through silicon via (TSV) offering with the addition of mid-end manufacturing capabilities.

Update from Japan: TEPCO's nuclear recovery roadmap, semiconductor materials shortage concerns

04/18/2011 

Longtime semiconductor exec Takeshi Hattori continues his reporting on the aftermath of the massive Japanese earthquake and tsunami: Updates on efforts to control the nuclear crisis, efforts to shift to "summertime" schedules to manage energy usage, and evidence of shortages in key materials for semiconductor manufacturing (H2O2 and silicon).

Rudolph's new F30 advanced macro inspection module wins foundry, MEMS orders

04/18/2011 

Rudolph's F30 module The F30 module offers improved throughput over the entire sensitivity range. Two European fabs, a leading Asian foundry, a leading MEMS producer, and a process equipment manufacturer that is developing an integrated inspection solution have ordered the Rudolph system.




WEBCASTS



Environment, Safety & Health

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The semiconductor industry is an acknowledged global leader in promoting environmental sustainability in the design, manufacture, and use of its products, as well as the health and safety of its operations and impacts on workers in semiconductor facilities (fabs). We will examine trends and concerns related to emissions, chemical use, energy consumption and worker safety and health.

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Wafer Processing

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As the industry moves to 10nm and 7nm nodes, advances in wafer processing – etch, deposition, planarization, implant, cleaning, annealing, epitaxy among others – will be required. Manufacturers are looking for new solutions for sustained strain engineering, FinFETs, FDSOI and multi-gate technologies, 3D NAND, and high mobility transistors.

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