Current Characterization Of Various Cu RDL Designs In Wafer Level Packages (WLP)

By JeongMin Ju - 15 Aug, 2024 - Comments: 0

Copper (Cu) redistribution layer (RDL) technology is used to interconnect chips in various high current Wafer Level Packaging (WLP) applications. Typically, Cu RDLs with thicknesses of 5-9 µm and widths of 5-20 µm are used for high current sourcing. In this case, the temperature of the Cu RDL metal line increases due to the Joule heat generated when current passes through the metal line. If a... » read more

New Issues In Power Semiconductors

By Ed Sperling - 26 Feb, 2024 - Comments: 0

The number of challenges is growing in power semiconductors, just as it is in traditional chips. Thermal dissipation and gradients, new design rules, and layout issues need to be considered, especially in the context of higher voltage and increased performance demands. Roland Jancke, design methodology head in Fraunhofer IIS’ Engineering of Adaptive Systems Division, talks about issues in int... » read more

Self-Heating Issues Spread

By Brian Bailey - 13 Mar, 2023 - Comments: 1

With every new node there are additional physical effects that must be considered, but not all of them are of the same level of criticality. One that is being mentioned more frequently is self-heating. All devices consume power and when they do that, it becomes heat. "In essence, all active devices generate heat as carriers move, creating channels for current to pass through the gates," says... » read more

Designing For Thermal

By Karen Heyman - 13 Sep, 2022 - Comments: 0

Heat has emerged as a major concern for semiconductors in every form factor, from digital watches to data centers, and it is becoming more of a problem at advanced nodes and in advanced packages where that heat is especially difficult to dissipate. Temperatures at the base of finFETs and GAA FETs can differ from those at the top of the transistor structures. They also can vary depending on h... » read more

A Revolution For Power Conversion Systems — CoolSiC MOSFET

By Infineon - 09 Jun, 2021 - Comments: 0

Silicon carbide (SiC) transistors are increasingly used in power converters, placing high demands on the size, weight and/or efficiency. The outstanding material properties of SiC enable the design of fastswitching unipolar devices as opposed to bipolar IGBT devices. Thus, solutions which have been up to now possible in the low-voltage world only (< 600 V) are now possible at higher voltages... » read more

Power Issues Grow For Cloud Chips

By Ann Mutschler - 11 Oct, 2018 - Comments: 0

Performance levels in traditional or hyperscale data centers are being limited by power and heat caused by an increasing number of processors, memory, disk and operating systems within servers. The problem is so complex and intertwined, though, that solving it requires a series of steps that hopefully add up to a significant reduction across a system. But at 7nm and below, predicting exactly... » read more

What I Learned About Heatsinks Using Thermal Simulation

By Mentor, a Siemens Business - 26 May, 2016 - Comments: 1

By Yousaf Mohammed, Student Intern at Mentor Graphics When designing electronics, heat dissipated to the surroundings by micro devices is an important consideration because heat has a powerful and stringent effect on their operation and lifespan. When an electronic device overheats, components start to wear out more quickly, degrade, cross the threshold into safe mode, and then stop functi... » read more

Thermal Issues Getting Worse

By Ann Mutschler - 14 Aug, 2015 - Comments: 2

Making sure that smartphone you’re holding doesn’t burn your face when you make a call requires a tremendous amount of engineering effort at all levels of the design - the case, the chips, the packaging. The developers of the IP subsystems in that smartphone must adhere to very strict power and energy thresholds so the OEM putting it all together can stick to some semblance of a product des... » read more

Knowledge Centers
Entities, people and technologies explored

Shift Left Is The Tip Of The Iceberg

A transformative change is underway for semiconductor design and EDA. New languages, models, and abstractions will need to be created.

by Brian Bailey

Partitioning In The Chiplet Era

Understanding how chiplets interact under different workloads is critical to ensuring signal integrity and optimal performance in heterogeneous designs.

by Ann Mutschler

3.5D: The Great Compromise

Pros and cons of a middle-ground chiplet assembly that combines 2.5D and 3D-IC.

by Ed Sperling

AI’s Role In Chip Design Widens, Drawing In New Startups

Focus is on letting engineers do much more with the same or fewer resources — and less drudgery.

by Karen Heyman

Key Technologies To Extend EUV To 14 Angstroms

Alongside high-NA EUV will be better-performing photoresists, reduced roughness using passivation and etch, and lateral etching to reduce tip-to-tip dimensions.

by Laura Peters

Memory Fundamentals For Engineers

eBook: Nearly everything you need to know about memory, including detailed explanations of the different types of memory; how and where these are used today; what's changing, which memories are successful and which ones might be in the future; and the limitations of each memory type.

by The SE Staff

What Comes After HBM For Chiplets

The standard for high-bandwidth memory limits design freedom at many levels, but that is required for interoperability. What freedoms can be taken from other functions to make chiplets possible?

by Brian Bailey

Why Small Fab And Assembly Houses Are Thriving

Megafabs churning out the most advanced processors are not the only game in town.

by Bryon Moyer

tag: heat dissipation