Semiconductors

SEMICONDUCTORS ARTICLES



Flatline: Chip sales unchanged in October, says SIA

12/07/2010 

Worldwide semiconductor sales were flat in October vs. September at ~$26M according to the SIA's latest monthly data, but are still on pace to meet the group's >32% growth rate for the year, assuming November and December are flat as well.

IEDM: IMEC, Panasonic tip record MEMS resonator

12/07/2010 

At this week's IEDM, IMEC and Panasonic reveal a new MEMS resonator with the industry's highest-recorded quality factor, thanks to two key process and manufacturing steps.

SEMI's updated forecast: 2010 stronger, 2011 weaker, 2012 mixed

12/07/2010 

As 2010 shapes up as a record year for semiconductor equipment spending, so the following two years will be a slow fall back to Earth with low single-digit overall growth, according to SEMI's updated forecasts -- though there are some interesting trends within the numbers.

Intel fabs highest mobility pFET with Ge channel

12/06/2010 

At this year's IEDM 2010, Intel is revealing a high-mobility Ge QWFET with ultrathin oxide thickness for low-power CMOS apps, the first demo of significantly superior mobility to strained-Si in a p-channel device.

Singapore-consortium-uses-nanotech-for-anti-bacterial-skins

12/06/2010 

Animals like dolphins and pilot whales are known to have anti-fouling skins. Researchers from A*STAR's Industrial Consortium On Nanoimprint (ICON) are using nanotechnology to mimic this, creating synthetic, chemical-free, anti-bacterial surfaces. The surfaces can reduce infections caused by pathogens such as S. aureus and E. coli and can be used on common plastics, medical devices, lenses and even ship hulls.

SUSS-Rolith-developing-nanolithography-for-next-gen-solar

12/04/2010 

SUSS MicroTec entered into a joint development and exclusive license agreement with Rolith Inc. to develop and build nanostructuring equipment using a nanolithography method developed by Rolith.

Quiet revolution: MEMS thrives on application diversity

12/02/2010 

iSuppli MEMS analyst Richard Dixon analyzes one of the fastest-growing MEMS sectors today: "high-value" technologies specifically built for use in industry, medical, energy, and wired telecommunications.

Vishay Intertechnology enters into new $450 million credit facility

12/02/2010 

Vishay Intertechnology Inc. (NYSE: VSH) has entered into a new five-year $450 million credit facility. The senior secured facility, which matures on December 1, 2015, replaces VSH's prior $250 million revolving credit facility, which was scheduled to mature on April 20, 2012.

TI-UC-Berkeley-determine-MugFET-stressor-IEDM-preview

12/02/2010 

At IEDM in San Francisco, CA, researchers from University of California at Berkeley and Texas Instruments (Dallas) will show that, among three common stressor techniques, MugFETs benefit the most from strained capping layers, also known as CESLs. Laura Peters, contributing editor, reports.

Soitec and Sumitomo Electric collaborate on engineered GaN substrates

12/02/2010 

Soitec and Sumitomo Electric Industries are working together to develop engineered gallium nitride (GaN) substrates. The alliance will draw on Sumitomo Electric’s GaN wafer manufacturing technology and Soitec’s Smart Cut layer transfer technology.

Tegal-expands-ProNova-ICP-silicon-DRIE-reactor-family

12/01/2010 

Tegal Corporation (Nasdaq: TGAL) is launching a new member of its ProNova family of high-density inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactors for the company’s DRIE series wafer processing products. The ProNova2 is targeted for fast-growing 200mm MEMS and 3D IC applications.

WSTS forecast: 2010 even better, no more whipsaw updates

12/01/2010 

The latest semiannual forecast update from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) sees 2010 as even better than expected in its midyear forecast six months ago, but going forward chip sales should be much less surprising. Key themes: memory's cooling off, MPUs are heating up, and the Americas lead the way.

Wafer-level microlens molding process from EV Group pushes CMOS image sensor roadmap by eliminating glass substrates

12/01/2010 

EV Group (EVG) developed a micro-lens molding process that can enable volume production of very-high-resolution (up to 8MP and higher) wafer-level optics for use in smart phones, pico projectors and myriad other applications.

Semiconductor-equipment-demand-slows-VLSI

12/01/2010 

The recent difficulties in semiconductor sales and the unusually rapidly declining IC price/performance index are slowing semiconductor equipment demand. Essentially, 2010 has been a 2-for-1 deal for both chips and equipment with two years of growth in one year, resulting in overcapacity and declining chip prices, says VLSI.

MicroProbe direct-dock extended to ADvantest T2000 SoC test

12/01/2010 

MicroProbe, wafer test technology supplier, is extending its direct-dock offering to support Advantest's T2000 SoC test platform. The T2000 platform-compatible option enables test coverage at wafer sort. More than 100 direct-dock probe cards are already in the field.

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor buys Agape Package Manufacturing

12/01/2010 

The consideration for the acquisition is approximately $38 million, comprising of approximately $17 million in cash and 1.8 million AOS's common shares. Prior to this acquisition, AOS held 43% equity stake in APM.

Rudolph-Asia-OSAT-collab-on-2D-defect-inspection-3D-solder-bump-TSV-depth-metrology-for-stacked-die

11/30/2010 

Rudolph’s NSX Series Macro Defect Inspection Systems Rudolph Technologies Inc. (RTEC) is partnering with a major outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) services manufacturer to provide its inspection and metrology capability in the development of stacked packaging processes. The process uses silicon interposer technology, sometimes referred to as 2.5D IC, as an intermediate step toward full blown 3D ICs.

SICAS: Utilization slips, but still high

11/30/2010 

Semiconductor manufacturing seems to have slipped a bit in 3Q10, according to the latest data from SICAS, but utilization rates remain extremely high. And foundries continue to sizzle.

NanoTech-developing-high-speed-ALD-system-under-FlexTech-grant

11/30/2010 

The FlexTech Alliance has awarded a contract to Cambridge NanoTech to develop a high-speed atomic layer deposition (ALD) system. When completed, the system will enable the manufacture of large-area and flexible substrates for use in organic electronics, solar cells, biomedical devices, and displays.

EUVL pattern distortions allow no holiday

11/30/2010 

EUVL pattern distortions allow no holidayEUVL introduces new challenges to the software used to correct pattern distortions introduced by exposure, resist, and etching processes. While the low k1 of EUVL would seem to provide a bit of an OPC vendor’s holiday, it’s shaping up to be quite the opposite situation. James Word, Mentor Graphics, shows us what next-gen litho pattern distortions are, and how to correct them.




WEBCASTS



Environment, Safety & Health

Date and time TBD

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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