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Making the Organic Transition
Among the most promising advances in semiconductor manufacturing materials proposed by researchers is a migration to organic circuitry. The time is rapidly approaching to make that move, but at what cost? How much effort will the change require? This Solid State Technology article explores the issues and suggests ways to deal with them.
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Letting the Component Fix Itself
If you slice your finger with a knife, you expect it to heal. What if materials could repair themselves in the same way as humans and trees? Sound far-fetched? According to this item from The Economist, such materials are already in development, with electronic components one of the first expected applications.
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What's More Than Two and Less Than Four?
In multiple-core microprocessors, sometimes two cores isn't enough and four offer excess capability, consume excessive power, and dissipate lots of heat. A three-core device proves that the number of cores doesn't have to be a power of two. The company claims the design will provide substantial benefits in gaming and high-definition applications.
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Inspecting Photomasks Gets New Tools
You're making devices as quickly as possible. How can you be sure that your photomasks are up to the task? Recent product introductions have made answering that question considerably easier. This article published in fabtech.org describes the two new tools and examines how to incorporate them into your process.
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TAKEX Wafer Sensors for the Semiconductor and Flat Panel OEM
Takex America, Inc.
TAKEX Wafer Sensors are just one of many semiconductor related sensors specifically designed to meet the demanding reliability requirements of the semiconductor and flat panel industry. The modular design facilitates fast maintenence turnaround and lowers downtime. Learn more.
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PPL(VUE) Safety Shields for HF Service
RAMCO Manufacturing Co., Inc.
The PPL(VUE) safety shield for flanges, valves, expansion joints, and all other pipe fittings detect and prevent hazardous chemical sprayouts. The unique "see thru" feature allows inspection of the pipe joint without removing the safety shield. It can be installed with a drain for secondary containment or PH patch for visible indication of a leak.
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Revolutionaly Vaisala Dewpoint Technology
(-112° F)
Vaisala
The Vaisala DRYCAP® Dewpoint Transmitter DMT152 uses a new polymer sensor technology to measure dewpoint temperatures down to -112° F. Patented AUTO-CALIBRATION feature provides excellent long term stability, full recovery from condensation, and a wet to dry response time measured in minutes. NIST certificate and one-week delivery.
Learn more about the DMT152. |
Revetest - Advanced Mechanical Surface Testing
CSM Instruments
The REVETEST™ scratch-testing equipment is widely used for characterizing hard-coated materials, with a typical coating thickness exceeding 1 µm. Coatings can be organic or inorganic, covering tribological, magnetic, and decorative applications. The Revetest is fully computer controlled and fully automated.
Learn more about CSM Instruments. |
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Leave Room for the Instruments
As circuit size shrinks, everybody has a different idea of how to use the newly available real estate. This version addresses systems on a chip (SOCs). An EDN Magazine article suggests embedding measuring equipment directly in the same silicon that contains circuit logic. The solution has pitfalls, but the advantages are too great to ignore.
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How Much Jitter
Measuring jitter becomes more critical as circuits get faster and voltage levels drop. Factors you once could ignore now surface as higher circuit error rates. This comprehensive white paper from a leading instrument maker offers insight into this emerging issue. It explains the theory of jitter as well as how to deal with it.
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Working with the New Materials
Sources have touted a variety of alternatives to silicon as the primary semiconductor in electronics manufacturing. Finding the materials is only half the battle. Designers can incorporate them into tomorrow's circuits, but can you produce them in sufficient quantity and high enough quality? The subject is how to handle hafnium-based circuits.
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Turn Down the Heat
Another approach to improving electronics is to develop techniques to extend the life of silicon as the material of choice. At Clemson University, researchers have a process that will allow tomorrow's chips to carry information faster yet generate less heat. One goal would be to incorporate fewer microprocessor cores onto each chip to accomplish a particular task.
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Moisture-free Wafer Probing to -55° C at Your Prober!
Temptronic Corporation
Add cold probing (-55°/+200° C) capability to your existing probing station with the COLD PROBE UPGRADE. Installed by Temptronic, this turnkey upgrade includes the Dry Environment Kit, ThermoChuck® System, and training. Available for Electroglas, TSK, and Tokyo Electron Automatic Wafer Probing Stations.
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Thermocouples for ASM Epsilon® Reactors
Conax Technologies
Conax Semiconductor offers a full line of high-quality quartz sheathed thermocouples for Epsilon Reactor family. We support 150 mm, 200 mm, and 300 mm process chamber sensors. Many styles are on the shelf for same-day shipment. Quartz resheathing and platinum reclamation services are also offered.
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CX Series High Frequency RF Power Supplies
Comdel, Inc.
The CX series power supplies start at power ranges from 600 to 3500 Watts with fixed frequencies from 2 to 30 MHz, and frequency agile capability up to 10% bandwidth. The solid-state design provides low cost of ownership with high reliability. Designed to meet the performance demand in RF-driven plasma systems for semiconductor processing.
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MEMS at Nanotech 2008 and Clean Technology & Sustainable Industries 2008
Nano Science and Technology Institute
Join your colleagues at the largest MEMS and nanotechnology event June 1-5 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Over 1,000 technical, manufacturing, and business sessions covering all applications of nanotechnology and MEMS. Or attend Clean Technology & Sustainable Industries Conference and learn to improve efficiency and lower use of resources.
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Careers & Commentary . . . | |
A Better Job Search by Design
Dice
DiceEngineering.com offers thousands of quality engineering jobs at top technology and engineering companies. Find jobs in your area of expertise. Search now.
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Are You Getting Ready to Leave?
How do you know when it is the right time to leave your current job and move on? For a manager, how can you improve your staff's job satisfaction? More important, how can you tell that they are planning to leave? And how much does it cost to replace an employee? This item from jobs Web site monster.com reports a considerable disconnect between managers' perception of their staff status and the reality that rests with the people themselves.
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What Next, Internet?
The Internet is ubiquitous. You can't go out for coffee to the nearest Starbucks without encountering legions of people hooked up to the World Wide Web. Industry insiders are asking what the next innovation might be. This BBC report from a recent conference in San Francisco examines what the industry's experts are saying. Will Web 2.0 see a new openness in program development? Are open advertising platforms the answer?
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Share Your Thoughts . . . Join a Conversation About This Month's Topic...
What to Do with the Space?
As your circuitry shrinks, how will you use the vacant real estate? Will you shrink components? Increase device functionality? Combine digital with analog functions? Add measurement capability to the device?
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