Issue

Pete Singer, Editor-in-Chief

The PV industry needs stable demand, grid parity with conventional sources of energy as an equilizer, along with new business models that allow consumers to choose between buying electricity or buying a system. Paula Mints, Navigant Consulting

Maybe the maturing semiconductor industry is through with cyclical highs and lows spanning several years, but those cycles are alive and well if you drill down to a narrower scope, notes IC Insights.

Citing the embodiment of its concept of “holistic lithography,” ASML has unwrapped two hardware/software components to help chipmakers improve lithography process windows while avoiding costly and timely steps and maintenance downtime.

ATMI latest “green” product, RegenSi 74, released at SEMICON West, is an improved and more environmentally friendly extension of its advanced test wafer recycle and reclaim products.

Norcimbus FCIV Inc. introduced its NBlend variable flow gas mixing system at SEMICON West, which allows manufacturers to transition away from using specialty gas cylinders and achieve cost savings by blending their own specialty gases in-house, implementing a facility’s existing bulk gas supply infrastructure.

SEMATECH subsidiary ISMI provided SST with tidbits from its closed-door discussions on Wednesday centered on the 450mm transition: some supplier selections are complete and >60 are engaged for test wafers, which are slated to distribute in 3Q09.

Laser-produced plasma (LPP) EUV source technology has advanced toward the specifications needed for actual chip production. David C. Brandt, Nigel R. Farrar, Cymer Inc.

A single-wafer closed chamber system has been developed to control oxygen levels in the processing fluid and chamber atmosphere to eliminate oxygen corrosion reaction. Jeffery M. Lauerhaas, FSI International

Die stacking designs make it difficult to use traditional paste materials—but now, self-filleting materials may mark the re-emergence of die attach paste as the material of choice for cost-effective packaging. Debbie Forray and Ilya Furman, Henkel Corp.

These are difficult times for the semiconductor industry. Many would say the most difficult ever.