Intel/GF deal: Pros, Cons, Unknowns

By Mark LaPedus - 22 Jul, 2021 - Comments: 1

The industry is still buzzing over a Wall Street Journal report that Intel is in talks to acquire GlobalFoundries (GF) for $30 billion. It’s been a week since the report appeared. Intel is still mum. GF says there are no talks taking place. Regardless, it’s worth looking at all of the possible scenarios just in case, and the pros and cons involved. There are layers upon layers of iron... » read more

The Importance Of Product Burn-In Test

By Vineet Pancholi - 22 Jul, 2021 - Comments: 0

Product burn-in (BI) is an indispensable step in the production test flow to ensure good quality and a properly functioning product for the customer. Amkor takes pride in rating ‘quality delivered to the customer’ as one of the highest corporate virtues. See figure 1. Fig. 1: Defects per Million (DPM) and DPM goal reported over five years. Burned-in integrated circuits (ICs) have a ... » read more

The Need For Open Molded Plastic Packages

By Rosie Medina - 22 Jul, 2021 - Comments: 0

When you need to meet a project or customer deadline, can you count on your outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) provider to get you the parts when you need them? If the answer is “no” or “it depends,” you’ll understand the value of having open molded plastic packages – plastic packages with open cavities – readily available for quick-turn assembly. OSATs are v... » read more

Packaging Technology Needs Of Automotive Radar Sensors Chips

By Ken Hsiao - 22 Jul, 2021 - Comments: 0

Automotive radar systems are typically composed of an antenna, front-end radar sensor and back-end signal processor. Current state-of-the-art automotive radar systems make use of the latest integrated circuit and a wide range of packaging technologies. Let’s look a bit further into the development of automotive radar sensor chips and the packaging technologies being used as solutions for this... » read more

What About Mask Rule Checking For Curvilinear Photomasks?

By Jan Willis - 22 Jul, 2021 - Comments: 0

The entire photomask design chain needs to be considered in the adoption of curvilinear photomasks. A broad look at the ecosystem impact was addressed in a previous video but a more in-depth look at the design chain of photomasks raises the next question – will MRC be harder and take more time? Aki Fujimura of D2S opens the nine-minute panel video with industry luminaries by providing a conce... » read more

Micron D1α, The Most Advanced Node Yet On DRAM

By Jeongdong Choe - 22 Jul, 2021 - Comments: 0

Finally, we got to see D1α DRAM generation! It’s 14nm! After a quick viewing of the Micron D1α die (die markings: Z41C) and its cell design, we have determined its actual technology node (design rule), in contrast to the claims of market literature. It is the most advanced technology node ever on DRAM, and it is the first sub-15nm cell integrated DRAM product. The Micron Z41C die removed... » read more

Chip Shortages Grow For Mature Nodes

By Mark LaPedus - 22 Jul, 2021 - Comments: 0

The current wave of chip shortages is expected to last for the foreseeable future, particularly for a growing list of critical devices produced in mature process nodes. Chips manufactured at mature nodes typically fall under the radar, but they are used in nearly every electronic device, including appliances, cars, computers, displays, industrial equipment, smartphones, and TVs. Many of thes... » read more

MicroLEDs Moving From Lab to Fab

By Laura Peters - 22 Jul, 2021 - Comments: 1

Every disruptive technology has its "aha" moment — the time when everyone from engineers to investors realizes that, yes, this technology is the real deal and it won’t be scrapped on the R&D floor. For many, it was Samsung’s recent announcement of a 110-inch microLED TV that irrevocably put microLEDs on the map. The TV’s price is $155,000, but as with most consumer electronics th... » read more

Using Less Helium In Semiconductor Manufacturing

By Terry Powell - 22 Jul, 2021 - Comments: 0

Helium gas is increasingly in short supply. While consumers may be most familiar with it for use in filling balloons, it is used much more heavily in a variety of industrial processes – including semiconductor fabrication. As a result of supply concerns, many companies, including Lam, are looking for ways to reduce their helium usage. The making of a semiconductor chip involv... » read more

Eco-Friendly Initiatives For Semiconductor Sustainability

By Jessica Albright - 22 Jul, 2021 - Comments: 0

Global warming is a hot topic lately, pun intended, contributing to an over 2-degree temperature increase in the last two centuries—which might not seem significant until you factor in the larger stress it puts on our ecosystem (and economy): fire threats, water shortages, and increases in natural disasters. In the last four decades, damages from climate disasters have cost the US 2 trillion... » read more

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