Secure Data Sharing Becoming Critical For Chip Manufacturing


Semiconductor companies increasingly need to share data to solve problems faster, boost yield, and trace the root cause of failed devices. But to make that work, companies need assurances that their data will be secure, free from data leaks that could result in the loss of valuable IP. Data sharing is becoming critical at leading device nodes, where process variability is starting to consume... » read more

Chip Industry’s Top Videos 2025


Rising complexity, new architectures, and AI's permeation of nearly everything left engineers struggling to keep up in 2025, as evidenced by this year's viewership numbers. Among the hottest topics were verification, agentic AI, DRAM/HBM, optimization of data movement, chiplets, and heterogeneous integration, but there was steady traffic growth across all sectors. Top 10 most-watched videos ... » read more

Smaller Geometries, Bigger Demands: The Role Of OCD In GAA Logic And Vertical Gate DRAM Process Control


AI workloads are pushing the boundaries of compute, memory, and interconnect architectures, and to meet these goals, manufacturers are rapidly accelerating advanced logic and DRAM development. Chief among these innovations: gate-all-around (GAA) logic transistor and vertical gate (VG) DRAM, two device architectures that promise higher performance, improved power efficiency, and greater scalabil... » read more

Metrology Digs Deep To Produce Next-Generation 3D NAND


Each generation of 3D NAND packs about 30% more bits than the previous version, with current devices storing up to 2 terabits of data in a die the size of a fingernail. With new product introductions shrinking from 18 months to every 12 months, chipmakers are constantly innovating to enable this prodigious scaling pace. 3D NAND technology is a core ingredient in mobile phones, solid-state dr... » read more

Enhancing CMP Process Control with Intelligent Line Monitoring & Integrated Metrology


New logic transistor designs, 3D NAND stacking, and DRAM integration introduce more CMP layers and tighter process windows. Traditional metrology approaches struggle to keep pace, especially with the need for high sampling rates, multiple control zones, and improved signal-to-noise ratios. Onto Innovation’s Intelligent Line Monitoring & Control with Integrated Metrology offers a new appro... » read more

Chip Industry Week In Review


China's Hefei Lumiverse Technology reportedly has developed a desktop-sized High Harmonic Generation light source that generates wavelengths as small as 1nm. One customer already has used it to produce 14nm chips, which was the original target node for EUV, according to one report. As a point of comparison, TSMC and Samsung didn't start using EUV until the 7nm node, relying instead on immersion... » read more

Through The Glass: Why The Rapid Development Of TGV Demands Rigorous Analysis


The drive for increased performance is enticing some advanced packaging manufacturers to transition from traditional organic substrates to glass core substrates, a switch that comes with numerous benefits. Compared to organic substrates, glass core offers superior mechanical strength, is better suited for large package sizes, provides improved electrical properties, and has the ability to meet ... » read more

HBM Leads The Way To Defect-Free Bumps


High-bandwidth memory stands at the forefront of multiple technology developments as a critical enabler of AI, but it is one of the most difficult modules to manufacture. Leading HBM device makers and foundries must simultaneously handle multi-layer chip stacking, die warpage, and shorter product lifecycles that are shrinking from two years down to just one. But perhaps the most formidable c... » read more

Interconnect Innovations In High Bandwidth Memory: Part 2


By Damon Tsai, Woo Young Han, and Tim Kryman Interconnect technology in high bandwidth memory (HBM) is at a fork in the road. One direction leads to tried-and-true microbump technology, and the other leads to a compelling alternative, hybrid bonding. Both technologies are evolving to address the stringent requirements of next generation HBM in pursuit of increased I/O density supporting high... » read more

New Frontiers In Fault Detection And Classification


IC manufacturers are increasingly relying on intelligent data processing to prevent downtime, improve yields, and reduce scrap. They are integrating that with fault detection and classification (FDC) to trace faults to their cause. Today’s FDC systems feature better sensors, variability control, and both predictive and prescriptive modeling. In the future, FDC will enable real-time decisio... » read more

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