5 Top Storylines For NAND Biz


2019 is expected to be a busy, if not difficult, year in the NAND flash memory market. Vendors will continue to ramp up 3D NAND, the successor to traditional 2D or planar NAND. Then, over the last year, prices for NAND have dropped with oversupply in the market. What’s in store in 2019? Vendors are expected to rush out their next-generation products. Then, there is a debate whether the... » read more

In-Memory Vs. Near-Memory Computing


New memory-centric chip technologies are emerging that promise to solve the bandwidth bottleneck issues in today’s systems. The idea behind these technologies is to bring the memory closer to the processing tasks to speed up the system. This concept isn’t new and the previous versions of the technology fell short. Moreover, it’s unclear if the new approaches will live up to their billi... » read more

Creating Higher Density 3D NAND Structures


3D NAND flash memory has enabled a new generation of non-volatile solid-state storage useful in nearly every electronic device imaginable. 3D NAND can achieve data densities exceeding those of 2D NAND structures, even when fabricated on later generation technology nodes. The methods used to increase storage capacity come with potentially significant tradeoffs in memory storage, structural sta... » read more

Multiple Approaches To Memory Challenges


As we enter the era of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is amazing to think about the possibilities for a truly seismic shift in the changing requirements for memory solutions. The massive amount of data humans generate every year is astounding and yet is expected to increase five-fold in the next few years from machine-generated data. Further compounding this growth is the emergin... » read more

150MM Alive and Kicking


Did you think chip making on 150mm wafers was a thing of the past? Think again. Many of the megatrends shaping our collective futures—mobility, autonomous driving and electric vehicles, 5G wireless communications, augmented- and virtual reality (AR/VR), and healthcare—depend on innovations created on the 150mm wafer size. While attention is often riveted on the race to the leading-edge n... » read more

New Model To Advance Industry Roadmaps


Economically, geopolitically and technologically – with visibility for the future unclear – there couldn’t be a better time for the microelectronics industry to take stock of its options. The U.S. government obsesses with whether to build a bigger wall. The trade war continues to have significant impact across the globe, straining U.S./China relationships to the point of saber rattling... » read more

Mixed Outlook For Silicon Wafer Biz


After a period of record growth, the silicon wafer industry is off to a slow start in 2019 and facing a mixed outlook. Generally, 200mm silicon wafer supply remains tight. But demand for 300mm silicon wafers is cooling off in some segments, causing supply to move toward equilibrium after a period of shortages. On average, though, silicon wafer prices continue to rise despite the slowdown. ... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: Feb. 19


Computed Axial Lithography Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the University of California at Berkeley have developed a 3D printing method to produce a new class of polymer parts. The technology, called Computed Axial Lithography (CAL), projects photons on a resin in a vial within a 3D printer. In total, researchers have demonstrated the ability to shine 1,440 different proje... » read more

Week In Review: Manufacturing, Test


Chipmakers and OEMs South Korean chipmaker MagnaChip reported its results. It has also undertaken a strategic evaluation of the company's foundry business and Fab 4, the larger of the company's two 200mm fabs. “The strategic evaluation is expected to include a range of possible options, including, but not limited to, joint ventures, strategic partnerships as well as M&A possibilities. The co... » read more

Ion Beam Sputtering Deposition of Fluoride Thin Films


By Aiko Ode, Veeco Instruments Thin film coatings for deep UV wavelengths are predominately produced by evaporation methods (thermal and Ebeam). Factors limiting the performance of evaporated films include surface roughness, porosity, absorption, and defect density. To enhance the films, they are typically deposited at high substrate temperatures (above 300°C.) The thermal stress created u... » read more

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