Successful Design Of Power Management Chips


With an industry as large as semiconductors, there are often surprises lurking in some of the more specialized product categories. Everyone knows that huge chips such as CPUs and GPUs command high prices and that memory chips are ubiquitous. However, the domain of power management integrated circuits (PMICs) is less well known to many observers. PMICs are impressive in terms of their technol... » read more

Fan-Out Packaging Gets Competitive


Fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) is a key enabler in the industry shift from transistor scaling to system scaling and integration. The design fans out the chip interconnects through a redistribution layer instead of a substrate. Compared to flip-chip ball grid array (FCBGA) or wire bonds, it creates lower thermal resistance, a slimmer package, and potentially lower costs. Yet, if the h... » read more

Multiphysics Simulations For Power Management ICs


This application brief describes Ansys Totem’s multiphysics capabilities to help you analyze power, thermal and reliability challenges in highly complex power management ICs (PMIC devices). You will understand why Totem’s many features including full-chip capacity, flexible GUI and layout-driven simulation and debug capabilities make it the ideal platform for identifying design issues. From... » read more

Demand Picks Up For 200mm


Demand is growing for both 200mm fab capacity and equipment, setting the stage for possible shortages in coming months. But there are also some uncertainties, if not warning signs, in the 200mm market and the entire IC industry. Trade disputes, as well as the current coronavirus outbreak in China, likely will impact the chip and equipment markets. The size of the impact and the duration rema... » read more

Planning For Panel-Level Fan-out


Several companies are developing or ramping up panel-level fan-out packaging as a way to reduce the cost of advanced packaging. Wafer-level fan-out is one of several advanced packaging types where a package can incorporate dies, MEMS and passives in an IC package. This approach has been in production for years, and is produced in a round wafer format in 200mm or 300mm wafer sizes. Fan-out... » read more

200mm Fab Crunch


Growing demand for analog, MEMS and RF chips continues to cause acute shortages for both 200mm fab capacity and equipment, and it shows no sign of letting up. Today, 200mm fab capacity is tight with a similar situation projected for the second half of 2018 and perhaps well into 2019. In fact, 2018 will likely represent the third consecutive year that 200mm fab capacity will be tight. The sam... » read more