Semiconductor Fabrication News

The semiconductor holy grail is a device that operates as a superconductor. Signals could be transmitted without resistance much farther on less power and without degrading. Scientists at Germany's Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (FZD) research center have turned conventional semiconducting materials superconductive using gallium-doped germanium at the mild temperature of 0.5 Kelvin.

Data stored on dense media tends to degrade over time. Manufacturers have had to trade data density against data retention. With the help of nanotech-based mechanical systems, researchers have a solution that may provide both benefits. This physorg.com note includes a short video that shows how the memory would function.

Techniques for designing and manufacturing semiconductors have changed markedly over four decades. Circuit elements have shrunk; speed, density, and functionality have exploded. Yet amid the chaos many core design principles remain sacrosanct. This retrospective from Electronic Design looks at both the evolution and the stability of the design process.

Uncertain economics require strict attention to design and manufacturing costs. This Chip Design article explores the consequences of that attitude with systems-on-chips (SoCs), including the move from hardware-based emulation to a software equivalent. It shows the benefits of a software approach to design implementation and chip ramp-up.

Verifying complex devices requires executing complex tests. But finite test speeds mean longer test times and higher power consumption. In addition to throughput bottlenecks and higher costs, constant logic state switching during long tests can damage a device's package and power structures. Carefully modularize the test regimen to minimize power consumption and test-related damage.

How long does it take a signal to move between locations in a complex device? How simultaneous are simultaneous signals? This article examines small-delay defects (SDDs) — propagation delays that produce incorrect results when devices run at speed. It explores available test techniques, their limitations, and the inadequacy of automatic program generation tools.

Photolithography techniques are limited by the wavelength of the incident light. As circuits shrink, overcoming that limitation becomes more critical. Financing from the NIST Advanced Technology Program resulted in a solution — a nanocrystal-based reversible-contrast enhancement layer. It promises extremely high-resolution and double-patterning of wafers.

Manufacturing devices to reside on non-flat topographies brings a unique set of challenges. The key lies in the method used for thin-film deposition onto the substrate. Solid State Technology examines atomic-layer deposition, a technique using the physical and thermal characteristics of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) to ensure uniformity and superior performance.

What happens to today's young high-flyers when their careers crash? They lose their jobs and their houses, their confidence, and their prospects. And they need time to get back on their feet. They actively seek a new position, but often economically overextended, where will they live? Sometimes, according to one of the victims of the current economic downturn, they move back into their parents' houses. For alleged adults who have been on their own for years or decades, the transition can prove rocky at best.

You are what you eat; make that play. Despite the constant bad press that video games will eventually rot your brain and make you grow horns, recent research has shown that positive-reinforcement games can encourage social awareness and teamwork. The Economist reports on a study where a video game that required subjects to clean up pollution and graffiti made them more likely to cooperate with partners in subsequent tests.

But You Discovered it First!

Proposed patent regulations would reward companies for filing patent applications first, not being the first to invent a technology. Who benefits most from the proposed changes? How will this affect your ability to protect your intellectual property?