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GLOBALFOUNDRIES completes acquisition of IBM Microelectronics businessWed, 7 Jul 2015
GLOBALFOUNDRIES today announced that it has completed its acquisition of IBM's Microelectronics business.
Singapore researchers use FEI Titan S/TEM to link plasmonics with molecular electronicsTue, 6 Jun 2014
The National University of Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and the A*STAR institutes: Institute of High Performance Computing and Institute of Materials Research and Engineering announced their recent discovery of quantum plasmonic tunneling.
Gopal Rao at The ConFab: Scaling isn't enough anymoreWed, 6 Jun 2014
The core element of the semiconductor industry's roadmap has been scaling – but Gopal Rao believes that isn't enough anymore.
Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron unveil new company nameTue, 7 Jul 2014
Applied Materials, Inc. and Tokyo Electron Limited today unveiled the new name and logo of their combined company which will be used once the merger closes.
Paradigm shift in semi equipment - ConfirmedTue, 7 Jul 2014
Technology node transitions slowing below 32nm.
IBM announces $3B research initiativeTue, 7 Jul 2014
IBM announced it is investing $3 billion over the next 5 years in two broad research and early stage development programs to push the limits of chip technology needed to meet the emerging demands of cloud computing and Big Data systems.
Process Watch: The 10 fundamental truths of process control for the semiconductor IC industryTue, 7 Jul 2014
This is the first in a series of 10 installments which will discuss fundamental truths about process control - inspection and metrology - for the semiconductor industry.
VCs still investing in semiconductor technology, but need strategic partners and capital efficiencyThu, 7 Jul 2014
Investors are still looking for differentiated technologies that solve high-value problems in semiconductor manufacturing, or that bring semiconductor technology to disruptive applications in other fields, particularly in the medical and environmental sectors
Can lean innovation bring growth and profits back to semiconductors?Fri, 7 Jul 2014
New approaches to start-ups can unlock mega-trend opportunities.
Cryogenic etching reduces plasma-induced damage of ultralow-k dielectricsMon, 7 Jul 2014
Reducing plasma-induced damage is key to advancing the scaling limits.
Global semiconductor industry on pace for record sales through first half of 2014Tue, 8 Aug 2014
Sales up across every region and nearly all product categories compared to last year; Americas region shows strongest growth.
SEMATECH and CNSE/SUNY launch new patterning centerThu, 8 Aug 2014
SEMATECH and the newly merged SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) / SUNY Institute of Technology (SUNYIT) announced today they have launched their joint Patterning Center of Excellence.
Strong growth in second quarter 2014 silicon wafer shipmentsTue, 8 Aug 2014
Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased during the second quarter 2014 when compared to first quarter area shipments according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.
UMC joins Fujitsu's new foundry companyFri, 8 Aug 2014
United Microelectronics Corporation and Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited today announced an agreement for UMC to become a minority shareholder of a newly formed subsidiary of Fujitsu Semiconductor that will include its 300mm wafer manufacturing facility located in Kuwana, Mie, Japan.
Fairchild Semiconductor to close two facilities, cutting 15% of workforceMon, 8 Aug 2014
Fairchild Semiconductor, a supplier of high performance power and mobile products, today announced it will eliminate its internal five-inch and significantly reduce six-inch wafer fabrication lines.
GaAs device market posts record revenues in 2013Fri, 9 Sep 2014
Ongoing growth in cellular and Wi-Fi applications will continue to drive GaAs device revenues higher.
Gas applications in lithographyMon, 9 Sep 2014
Lithography is a key enabling process with very demanding requirements. Shrinking feature sizes will raise the bar even further.
10nm success depends on concurrent design and developmentMon, 9 Sep 2014
The Prophets of Doom greet every new process node with a chorus of dire warnings about the end of scaling, catastrophic thermal effects, parasitics run amok and . . . you know the rest.
SEMI wins request for etch equipment export control reviewTue, 9 Sep 2014
Major milestone in longstanding push to remove etch equipment from U.S. export control list.
Rigorously tuned compact models: Extending predictive models to full-chipTue, 9 Sep 2014
Fast and predictive 3D resist compact models are needed for OPC applications. A methodology to build such models is described, starting from a 3D bulk image, and including resist interface effects such as diffusion.
Equipment spending shows strong growth for 2014 and 2015Wed, 9 Sep 2014
Front End fab equipment spending is projected to increase up to another 20 percent in 2015 to US$ 42 billion.
The semiconductor industry: Out in front, but lagging behindWed, 9 Sep 2014
Capital equipment suppliers must provide advanced analytical systems that leverage data generated by their tools to help their fab customers address the challenges of Big Data and advanced analytics.
Outlook: Healthy equipment spending into 2015Wed, 9 Sep 2014
The general consensus for the semiconductor industry is for this year's positive trend to continue into 2015 as both revenue growth and unit shipment growth are expected to be in the mid- to high- single digit range.
North American semiconductor equipment industry posts August 2014 book-to-bill ratio of 1.04Thu, 9 Sep 2014
A book-to-bill of 1.04 means that $104 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.
Europe: Strong growth in chip equipment spending in 2015Mon, 10 Oct 2014
Global capital spending on semiconductor equipment is projected to grow 21.1 percent in 2014 and 21.0 percent in 2015.
Adoption of SiC & GaN to directly impact the power electronics industryMon, 10 Oct 2014
Emergence of new wide bandgap (WBG) technologies such as SiC and GaN materials will definitely reshape part of the established power electronics industry, according to Yole Développement (Yole).
Global semiconductor sales continue to climb in AugustMon, 10 Oct 2014
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, today announced that worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $28.4 billion for the month of August 2014.
SEMI announces rising annual silicon wafer shipment forecastTue, 10 Oct 2014
SEMI recently completed its annual silicon shipment forecast for the semiconductor industry. This forecast provides an outlook for the demand in silicon units for the period 2014-2016.
Samsung to invest $14.7B in new semiconductor fabTue, 10 Oct 2014
Samsung Electronics announced plans on Monday to invest $14.7 billion (15.6 trillion Korean won) in a new semiconductor fabrication facility in Pyeongtaek, South Korea.
Altera CEO John Daane to receive Robert N. Noyce AwardWed, 10 Oct 2014
The Semiconductor Industry Association announced that John P. Daane, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Altera, has been named the 2014 recipient of SIA's highest honor, the Robert N. Noyce Award.
EUV and mask complexityMon, 10 Oct 2014
EUV and mask complexity were the hot topics at this year's SPIE Photomask Technology conference in Monterey, Calif.
Threshold voltage tuning for 10nm and beyond CMOS integrationMon, 10 Oct 2014
A novel metal gate integration scheme to achieve precise threshold voltage (VT) control for multiple VTs is described.
Managing oxide growth on in-process storage wafers for cost and yield impactMon, 10 Oct 2014
A system is described that mitigates unintended oxide growth for bare wafers while in-process storage and potentially post process at tools using nitrogen purge.
Semiconductor market in India is expected to reach US$ 52.58B by 2020Tue, 10 Oct 2014
India has a very large industry base of electronics items, but there is little manufacturing base for semiconductors.
The mystery of reed relays: Understanding specificationsWed, 10 Oct 2014
Specifications of reed relays, which are used for current switching in ATE and other applications are explained, including carry current, lifetime, minimum switch capacity, hot switching, operating speed and thermoelectric switching.
Growing momentum in semiconductor manufacturing in VietnamFri, 10 Oct 2014
The 2nd annual SEMI Vietnam Semiconductor Strategy Summit, co-organized with the Saigon Hi-Tech Park and with FabMax as the premier sponsor, was held September 16-17, 2014 in Ho Chi Minh City.
IBM to pay GlobalFoundries $1.5B to take over chip fabsMon, 10 Oct 2014
IBM and GLOBALFOUNDRIES today announced that GLOBALFOUNDRIES will acquire IBM's global commercial semiconductor technology business.
Gigaphoton achieves 3-hour continuous operation of EUV light sourceTue, 10 Oct 2014
Gigaphoton Inc. announced today that it has succeeded in achieving 3-hour continuous operation of its prototype LPP EUV light source at 50 percent duty cycle and 42-W output, equivalent to usage in a high-volume-manufacturing (HVM) environment.
Mergers, acquisitions reshape the automotive semi supplier landscapeWed, 10 Oct 2014
Capped by last week's announcement that Qualcomm Inc. would buy CSR PLC, the automotive semiconductor industry recently has been undergoing a wave of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity that has shaken up the competitive order of the market.
Imec, Coventor partner to advance CMOS process developmentTue, 10 Oct 2014
Imec researchers using Coventor's SEMulator3D platform to model and optimize 7nm manufacturing technology.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES and INVECAS introduce new dedicated design service partner for leading-edge technologiesThu, 11 Nov 2014
GLOBALFOUNDRIES, a provider of advanced semiconductor manufacturing, design and technology solutions, today announced a partnership with INVECAS Inc.
Applied Materials develops advanced patterning solution for memory devicesMon, 11 Nov 2014
Applied Materials, Inc. today announced it collaborated with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and PSK Inc., a Korea-based leader in photoresist removal, to develop an advanced patterning solution for the manufacture of future generations of NAND and DRAM device designs.
Double-digit growth: Record sales to shake up Top 20 semi supplier rankingMon, 11 Nov 2014
TSMC, MediaTek, and SK Hynix's sales are each expected to jump by >20% this year.
Slight increase in third quarter 2014 silicon wafer shipmentsWed, 11 Nov 2014
Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased during the third quarter 2014 when compared to second quarter area shipments according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.
Intel CEO Brian Krzanich elected chairman of Semiconductor Industry AssociationThu, 11 Nov 2014
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced that the SIA board of directors has elected Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel, as its 2015 chairman and Dr. Necip Sayiner, president, CEO and director of Intersil, as its 2015 vice chairman.
China and US boost worldwide industrial semiconductor market in 2014Thu, 11 Nov 2014
Continuing strength in China and a resurgent U.S. economy are combining to drive accelerated growth in the worldwide market for semiconductors used in industrial applications this year, according to IHS Technology.
Slideshow: IEDM 2014 PreviewWed, 11 Nov 2014
Browse for an advance look at some of the most newsworthy topics and papers to be presented at the 60th annual meeting, to be held at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel from December 15-17, 2014.
Soitec announces new world record for solar cell efficiency at 46%Wed, 12 Dec 2014
The record multi-junction solar cell converts 46 % of the solar light into electrical energy.
Cypress and Spansion to merge in $4B all-stock transactionWed, 12 Dec 2014
Cypress Semiconductor Corp. and Spansion, Inc. this week announced a definitive agreement to merge in an all-stock, tax-free transaction valued at approximately $4 billion.
Global semiconductor sales increase in October; Substantial growth projected for 2014Wed, 12 Dec 2014
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced that worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $29.7 billion for the month of October 2014, an increase of 9.6 percent from the October 2013 total.
3D TSV beginsWed, 12 Dec 2014
"Engineering samples have already started to ship and preparation is on-going for entering volume manufacturing," announces Yole.
Innovation in the shadow of volcanic changeTue, 12 Dec 2014
The semiconductor equipment and materials industry is currently enjoying a double-digit annual growth rate and good prospects looking forward to 2015.
Process Watch: Fab managers don't like surprisesThu, 12 Dec 2014
Nobody likes surprises - especially the managers of $10 billion factories.
Laser spike annealing resolves sub-20nm logic device manufacturing challengesThu, 12 Dec 2014
LSA technology plays an enabling role to overcoming manufacturing challenges for sub-20nm logic devices.
From transistors to bumps: Preparing SEM cross-sections by combining site-specific cleaving and broad ion millingThu, 12 Dec 2014
Cross section sample preparation is demonstrated using a workflow that combines High Accuracy Cleaving I(HAC) and Broad Ion Beam (BIB) milling.
The most expensive defectThu, 12 Dec 2014
Defects that aren't detected inline cost fabs the most.
Eliminating electrostatic discharge: Protecting tomorrow's technologyMon, 12 Dec 2014
A new range of dissipative materials based on fluoroelastomer and perfluoroelastomer polymers is designed for wafer processing and wafer handling applications.
Global semiconductor market set for strongest growth in four years in 2014Tue, 12 Dec 2014
Worldwide semiconductor market revenue is on track to achieve a 9.4 percent expansion this year, with broad-based growth across multiple chip segments driving the best industry performance since 2010.
DRAM capacity rises from slump; Sector faces new challengesMon, 1 Jan 2015
SEMI today announced details from the SEMI World Fab Forecast Report illuminating the state of the semiconductor manufacturing industry, coincident with convening SEMI's Industry Strategy Symposium (ISS) in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
IHS identifies technologies to transform the world over next five yearsMon, 1 Jan 2015
The Internet of Everything, cloud computing/big data and 3-D printing are the three technologies most likely to transform the world during the next five years, according to IHS Technology.
SUNY Board appoints Dr. Alain Kaloyeros as founding president of SUNY Polytechnic InstituteWed, 1 Jan 2015
SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) yesterday announced the SUNY Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Alain Kaloyeros as the founding President of SUNY Poly.
Underdog DRAMTue, 1 Jan 2015
DRAM shifts out of a slump, but sector still faces obstacles.
2015 outlook: Tech trends and driversTue, 1 Jan 2015
Leading industry experts provide their perspectives on what to expect in 2015. 3D devices and 3D integration, rising process complexity and "big data" are among the hot topics.
Global semiconductor industry posts record sales in 2014Mon, 2 Feb 2015
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, today announced that the global semiconductor industry posted record sales totaling $335.8 billion in 2014, an increase of 9.9 percent from the 2013 total of $305.6 billion.
Processing of graphene on 300mm Si wafers in a state-of-the-art CMOS fabrication facilityTue, 2 Feb 2015
The building blocks are described that can be used to fabricate other novel device architectures that can take advantage of the unique properties of graphene or other interesting single-layer (i.e., 2D) materials.
Applied's merger with TEL: Still a work in progressWed, 2 Feb 2015
Applied Materials on Wednesday reported that its proposed merger with Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TEL) is still under way, without giving a deadline or expected date of conclusion.
Security should not be hard to implementTue, 2 Feb 2015
Data is ubiquitous today. It is generated, exchanged and consumed at unprecedented rates.
Imec reports breakthrough results on DSAThu, 2 Feb 2015
At next week's SPIE advanced lithography conference, to be held in San Jose, Calif., Feb. 22-26, imec will present breakthrough results on Directed Self-Assembly (DSA) process development.
Techniques for simplifying pulsed measurements: Part 1Fri, 2 Feb 2015
Pulsed measurements are defined in Part 1, and common pulsed measurement challenges are discussed in Part 2.
Top semiconductor R&D leaders ranked for 2014Thu, 2 Feb 2015
Intel's R&D expenditures were 2x greater than nearest competitor; Qualcomm with largest percentage increase; Nvidia with highest R&D/sales ratio.
Semiconductor unit shipments to exceed one trillion devices in 2017Thu, 2 Feb 2015
Updated forecast expects robust 8.2% average annual unit shipment growth through 2019.
Process Watch: The most expensive defect - Part 2Thu, 7 Jul 2015
The December 2014 edition of Process Watch suggested that the most expensive defect is the one that goes undetected until the end of line. Indeed, undetected excursions typically result in the scrap of millions of dollars per year of defective semiconductor chips.
Global semiconductor industry posts highest-ever January salesTue, 3 Mar 2015
Global sales from January 2015 were 2 percent lower than the December 2014 total of $29.1 billion, reflecting normal seasonal trends.
Strong fab equipment spending expected in 2015; Slowing but positive 2016Tue, 3 Mar 2015
SEMI today announced an update of the SEMI World Fab Forecast report which updates outlooks for 2015 and 2016.
11 IC product categories to exceed total IC market growth in 2015Thu, 3 Mar 2015
IC Insights' March Update to the 2015 McClean Report (being released later this month) refreshes the forecasts for 33 major IC product categories through 2019.
Cypress and Spansion complete $5 Billion mergerFri, 3 Mar 2015
Cypress Semiconductor Corp. and Spansion, Inc. announced that they have closed the merger of the two companies in an all-stock, tax-free transaction valued at approximately $5 billion.
Recovering economies driving growth in the industrial semiconductor marketMon, 3 Mar 2015
The industrial semiconductor market will post a 9.7 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next several years as revenue rises from $34.8 billion in 2013 to $55.2 billion in 2018.
Poised for more growthTue, 3 Mar 2015
Strong fab equipment spending expected in 2015; Slower but positive 2016.
Process Watch: Know your enemyWed, 3 Mar 2015
Anything that degrades the quality of the measurement also degrades the quality of the process because it introduces more variability into the Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts which are windows into the health of the process.
NXP-Freescale merger to result in world's eighth largest chip makerWed, 3 Mar 2015
The recent acquisition of Freescale Semiconductor by NXP Semiconductors would catapult the merged entity into the world's eighth-largest chipmaker, positioning the newly minted giant for an even more formidable presence in key industrial sectors, according to IHS.
Advanced analytics for yield improvement and zero defect in semiconductorsThu, 4 Apr 2015
Machine learning based advanced analytics for anomaly detection offers powerful techniques that can be used to achieve breakthroughs in yield and field defect rates.
Flexible facilities for 450mm wafer fabsTue, 4 Apr 2015
When the commercial semiconductor manufacturing industry decides to move to the next wafer size of 450mm, it will be time to re-consider equipment and facilities strategies.
Fifty years of Moore's Law made possible by semiconductor equipment and materials suppliers worldwideTue, 4 Apr 2015
April 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the business world's most profound drivers, now commonly referred to as Moore's Law.
Top 10 2015 semiconductor sales leaders forecast to include NXP/FreescaleFri, 4 Apr 2015
Total top 10 marketshare of semiconductor industry now back over 50 percent.
Global semiconductor market achieves strong, broad-based growth in 2014Mon, 4 Apr 2015
Highest annual growth rate since 2010; strong growth expected again in 2015.
How emerging IoT impacts the semiconductor sectorThu, 4 Apr 2015
In this 50th year anniversary of Moore's Law, the steady scaling of silicon chips' cost and performance that has so changed our world over the last half century is now poised to change it even further through the Internet of Things.
Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron terminate mergerMon, 4 Apr 2015
The decision came after the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) advised the parties that the coordinated remedy proposal submitted to all regulators would not be sufficient to replace the competition lost from the merger
Enhanced thermal management solutions for RF power amplifiersWed, 5 May 2015
Synthetic diamond heat spreaders and GaN-on-Diamond wafers have emerged as a leading thermal- management technology for RF Power Amplifiers.
Understanding the structural and optical properties of silicon nitrideThu, 5 May 2015
Using first-principles calculations, the electronic structures and optical properties that arise on doping-atom-containing silicon nitride systems are reported as a function of dielectric constant, reflectivity, absorption and loss spectra.
TI strengthens analog marketshare; Skyworks gains from Apple's favorMon, 5 May 2015
Top 10 suppliers accounted for 57% of analog sales in 2014; 9 of 10 top suppliers with analog sales greater than $1.0 billion.
IBM's silicon photonics technology ready to speed up cloud and Big Data applicationsTue, 5 May 2015
IBM today announced a significant milestone in the development of silicon photonics technology, which enables silicon chips to use pulses of light instead of electrical signals over wires to move data at rapid speeds and longer distances in future computing systems.
Moore's Law to keep on 28nmWed, 5 May 2015
Scaling is now bifurcating - some scaling on with 28/22nm, while other push below 14nm.
Process Watch: Time is the enemy of profitabilityThu, 5 May 2015
There are three main phases to semiconductor manufacturing: research and development (R&D), ramp, and high volume manufacturing (HVM). All of them are expensive and time is a critical element in all three phases.
3D NAND, MRAM, RRAM: Emerging opportunities and challenges for the changing memory marketThu, 5 May 2015
Ever growing volumes of data to be stored and accessed, and advancing process technologies for sophisticated control of deposition and etch in complex stacks of new materials, are creating a window of opportunity for an emerging variety of next-generation non-volatile memory technologies.
North America: A critical player in the advanced semiconductor marketMon, 6 Jun 2015
As the fabless business model has transformed the semiconductor manufacturing landscape, Taiwan and South Korea have undeniably grown into key semiconductor producing regions. However, it should be noted that North America is home to Intel, Texas Instruments, Micron, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Freescale, Fairchild, Microchip, ON Semiconductor, significant operations of Samsung, and other manufacturers.
Fab equipment growth continues into 2015Thu, 6 Jun 2015
Fab equipment spending is forecast to depart from the typical historic trend over the past 15 years of two years of spending growth followed by one of decline. For the first time, equipment spending could grow every year for three years in a row: 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Reduced defectivity and cost of ownership copper CMP cleansFri, 6 Jun 2015
A new, low pH, BTA free, noble-bond chemistry produced equivalent yield at substantially lower costs.
Drive profitability through better forecastingWed, 6 Jun 2015
Different forecasting algorithms are highlighted and a framework is provided on how best to estimate product demand using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches.
More change for the chip industryThu, 6 Jun 2015
As if scaling to 7nm geometries and going vertical with FinFETs, TSVs and other emerging technologies wasn't challenge enough, the emerging market for connected smart devices will bring more changes to the semiconductor sector. And then there's 3D printing looming in the wings.
"Easy does it" ─ Fabs trim spending plansFri, 6 Jun 2015
Still capex and equipment spending expected to increase in 2015 and 2016.
IC manufacturers close or repurpose 83 wafer fabs from 2009-2014Wed, 6 Jun 2015
150mm and 200mm wafer fabs account for two-thirds of total closures.
IHS says Moore's Law led to trillions of dollars added to global economyFri, 6 Jun 2015
From connectivity to globalization and sustainability, the "Law" created by Gordon Moore's prediction for the pace of semiconductor technology advances has set the stage for global technology innovation and contribution for 50 years.
Power transistors seen stabilizing and setting record sales in 2015Thu, 6 Jun 2015
After six years of gyrating between strong increases and sales declines, the power transistor business is returning to more normal growth patterns.
What chipmakers will need to address growing complexity, cost of IC design and yield rampsMon, 6 Jun 2015
As these early days of the Internet of Things show the network's promise and reveal technological challenges that could threaten its ability to meet user expectations in the years ahead, technology providers will be charged with supplying the solutions that will meet those challenges.
Building a better semiconductorMon, 6 Jun 2015
Research led by Michigan State University could someday lead to the development of new and improved semiconductors.
Tackling advanced litho challenges on the path to node 5Thu, 7 Jul 2015
If you attended just about any mask making conference in the last five to seven years, you would have heard the lament about exploding data volumes and their impact on mask writing time and, by extension, mask costs.
Process Watch: Increasing process steps and the tyranny of numbersMon, 7 Jul 2015
Moving to the next design rule can be stressful for the inspection and metrology engineer. Like everything else in the fab, process control generally doesn't get any easier as design rules shrink and new processes are introduced.
The big picture: More than 850 volume fabs in 2017Mon, 7 Jul 2015
We, in the semiconductor supply chain, are constantly immersed in detailed numbers. It's important to pull back and look at the major trends that have profoundly changed and are reshaping our industry.
Immersion lithography remains the industry's workhorse technologyWed, 7 Jul 2015
While the lithography equipment market sometimes seems like A Tale of Two Cities, it's more complicated than that. The basic fact is that the semiconductor industry is soldiering on with 193-nanometer immersion lithography technology and multiple-patterning exposures while extreme-ultraviolet lithography continues its long-aborning development.
IBM Research alliance produces industry's first 7nm node test chipsThu, 7 Jul 2015
IBM Research today announced that working with alliance partners at SUNY Polytechnic Institute's Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (SUNY Poly CNSE) it has produced the semiconductor industry's first 7nm (nanometer) node test chips with functional transistors.
IoT platform, Silicon Impulse, energy efficiency and consumer applications focus of LetiDays discussionThu, 7 Jul 2015
Smart devices for the Internet of Things are among the top three growth drivers for the semiconductor industry, but the IoT is a highly fragmented market where multiple applications have varying energy requirements.
Substrate innovation for extending Moore and more than MooreFri, 7 Jul 2015
Engineered SOI substrates are now a mainstream option for the semiconductor industry.
Controlling measurements of WLP on high mix, high volume manufacturingTue, 7 Jul 2015
The demand for 4-mask layer Cu-plated wafer-level chip scale packaging (WLCSP) is increasing rapidly, and the current capability for in-line Cu height measurements is not suitable for high volume manufacturing (HVM).
Chinese chipmaker Tsinghua prepares $23B bid for Micron TechnologyTue, 7 Jul 2015
China's state-owned Tsinghua Unigroup Ltd. is preparing a $23 billion bid for chipmaker Micron Technology, in what analysts say would be the biggest Chinese takeover of a U.S. company.
EUV: Unlike anything else in the fabThu, 7 Jul 2015
Imagine EUV lithography in high volume production. ASML has been working for years to make it happen.
Business is good for vendors of test and inspection/metrology equipmentThu, 7 Jul 2015
Semiconductor test equipment and inspection/metrology equipment are unglamorous yet critical segments of the equipment field.
Intel and Micron produce breakthrough memory technologyTue, 7 Jul 2015
Intel and Micron begin production on new class of non-volatile memory, creating the first new memory category in more than 25 years.
Tsunami of M&A deals underway in the semiconductor industry in 2015Wed, 7 Jul 2015
Marketshare expansion, Internet of Things opportunities, rising costs of R&D, and China's aggressive new focus on the semiconductor industry all driving the recent M&A surge.
Samsung 3D TSV stacked DDR4 DRAM: the first analyzed memory product with via- middle TSVFri, 7 Jul 2015
According to Yole, 3D TSV technology is expected to reach $4.8B billion in revenues by 2019.
Mid-year global semiconductor sales ahead of last year's pace by 4 percentMon, 8 Aug 2015
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $84.0 billion during the second quarter of 2015, an increase of 1.0 percent over the previous quarter and 2.0 percent compared to the second quarter of 2014.
Samsung cuts Intel's semiconductor sales lead to 16% in second quarterThu, 8 Aug 2015
Samsung's excellent growth rate in 2Q15 put the company closer to catching Intel and becoming the world's leading semiconductor supplier.
Record shipments levels continue into the second quarter 2015Tue, 8 Aug 2015
Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased during the second quarter 2015 when compared to first quarter area shipments according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.
As utilities get smarter, smart meter semiconductors riseTue, 8 Aug 2015
The global market for semiconductors used in smart meters that provide two-way communications between meters and utilities will continue to expand in the coming years, providing significant growth opportunities semiconductor manufacturers.
Small electronics companies spent $78.3B on semiconductors in 2014Fri, 8 Aug 2015
Startups and small electronics companies spent $78.3 billion on semiconductors in 2014, representing 23 percent of the total market, compelling semiconductor companies to revisit their sales strategy to focus on the large number of smaller organizations than relying on big deals from large customers, research firm Gartner said.
New AMS fab going to Marcy, NYThu, 8 Aug 2015
Austria-based ams AG, formerly known as Austriamicrosystem, announced plans to locate a new 360,000 ft2 fab in upstate New York at the Nano Utica site in Marcy, NY.
Pure-play foundry sales forecast to surpass $12B in fourth quarter 2015Fri, 8 Aug 2015
Atypical 2015 sales pattern, but stronger growth forecast to resume in second half of this year.
Intel's Bill Holt awarded Robert N. Noyce AwardThu, 9 Sep 2015
Holt will accept the award at SIA's Annual Award Dinner on Thursday, Dec. 3.
Global semiconductor sales down slightly in JulyFri, 9 Sep 2015
Softening demand, currency devaluation lead to slower sales.
Semiconductor Research Corporation expands benchmarking research programWed, 9 Sep 2015
Marking an industry first for emerging electronics devices, Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) today announced a significant expansion of its benchmarking research.
Soitec and Simgui announce first 200-MM SOI wafers produced in ChinaTue, 9 Sep 2015
Soitec and Simgui jointly announced today that the first 200-mm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers have been produced at Simgui's manufacturing facility in Shanghai.
S3S - the conference for IoT technologiesFri, 9 Sep 2015
The upcoming IEEE S3S Conference 2015 in Sonoma, CA, on October 5-8, will focus on key technologies for the IoT era.
Process Watch: Risky businessFri, 9 Sep 2015
This is the ninth in a series of 10 installments that explore certain fundamental truths about process control--defect inspection and metrology--for the semiconductor industry.
Dialog Semiconductor to acquire Atmel for $4.6 billionMon, 9 Sep 2015
Dialog Semiconductor and Atmel Corporation announced today that Dialog has agreed to acquire Atmel in a cash and stock transaction for total consideration of approximately $4.6 billion.
ASML ships new TWINSCAN NXT immersion lithography platformWed, 9 Sep 2015
ASML announced the first shipment of its new TWINSCAN (TM) NXT:1980Di immersion lithography system to support increasingly demanding multiple-patterning performance requirements.
Monolithic 3D - Game-Changing 2.0 at IEEE S3SMon, 10 Oct 2015
The path to alternative scaling is now open.
Historic era of consolidation for chip makersMon, 10 Oct 2015
We are in a historic era for consolidation among semiconductor manufacturers, and the reasons are surprising.
Slideshow: 2015 IEDM PreviewTue, 10 Oct 2015
An advance look at some of the most newsworthy topics and papers that will be presented at this year's IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting.
New NSF-SRC report on energy efficient computingThu, 10 Oct 2015
A report that resulted from a workshop funded by Semiconductor Research Corporation and National Science Foundation outlines key factors limiting progress in computing and novel device and architecture research that can overcome these barriers.
Sally L. Bixby joins Extension Media as Senior Events DirectorWed, 10 Oct 2015
Extension Media announced today the addition of Sally L. Bixby as Senior Events Director for Extension Media's fast-growing conference division.
Reports: TI, STMicro to add to semiconductor acquisitions spreeFri, 10 Oct 2015
Texas Instruments (Maxim Integrated) and STMicro (Fairchild) may be considering large acquisitions.
China's Tsinghua Unigroup invests in Taiwan's PowertechTue, 11 Nov 2015
Tsinghua Unigroup Ltd., a Chinese government-owned chipmaker will make a $600 million investment in Powertech Technology of Taiwan, according to multiple reports.
Lithography alternatives: Why are they essential?Fri, 11 Nov 2015
The availability of patterning alternatives in the lithography landscape represents a big opportunity to properly address the coming needs generated by the IoT.
What lies beneath? 50 years of enabling Moore's LawTue, 11 Nov 2015
Vacuum technology trends can be seen over the period of innovation defined by Moore's Law, particularly in the areas of increasing shaft speed, management of pumping power, and the use computer modeling.
Leti and partners announce developments on three mature platformsWed, 11 Nov 2015
CEA-Leti and its partners in the European FP7 project PLAT4M today announced they have built three silicon photonics platforms.
ON Semiconductor to acquire Fairchild for $2.4BWed, 11 Nov 2015
The acquisition creates a leader in the power semiconductor market with combined revenue of approximately $5 billion, diversified across multiple markets with a strategic focus on automotive, industrial and smartphone end markets.
Mergers: Commission clears Avago's acquisition of BroadcomWed, 11 Nov 2015
The Commission concluded that the merged entity would continue to face effective competition in Europe.
IDMs could top fabless semiconductor company growth for only the second time in historyThu, 12 Dec 2015
Sales of top 10 IDMs forecast to be flat; top 10 fabless companies expected to slip into negative growth this year.
Advanced lithography and electroplating approach to form high-aspect ratio copper pillarsTue, 12 Dec 2015
It is possible to fabricate copper pillars more than 100μm in height, with aspect ratios up to 6:1, using advanced packaging stepper lithography in conjunction with electroplating.
Practical limits for metallization scaling in fabsTue, 12 Dec 2015
Beyond economic limits due to litho limitations, the inherent need for a physical barrier puts an electrical limit on the ability to scale.
Fab equipment spending: Look for upward swing into 2016Wed, 12 Dec 2015
Worldwide semiconductor fab equipment capital expenditure growth (new and used) for 2015 is expected to be 0.5 percent (total capex of US$35.8 billion), increasing another 2.6 percent (to a total of $36.7 billion) in 2016, according to the latest update of the quarterly SEMI World Fab Forecast report.
2016 bounce to modest gainsMon, 12 Dec 2015
After deflated 2015, 3D leads the way.
Micron announces resignation of President Mark AdamsMon, 1 Jan 2016
Micron Technology, Inc. today announced that President Mark Adams will resign for personal health reasons.
A wild ride in 2015 - and two steps forward in 2016Thu, 1 Jan 2016
"In like a lion, out like a lamb" is just half the story for 2015. While initial expectations forecasted a double-digit growth year, the world economy faded and dragged our industry down to nearly flat 2015/2014 results.
Samsung, TSMC remain tops in available wafer fab capacityThu, 1 Jan 2016
GlobalFoundries, TSMC, SK Hynix show greatest gains in wafer capacity in 2015.
Worldwide semiconductor revenue declined 1.9% in 2015, Gartner reportsFri, 1 Jan 2016
Worldwide semiconductor revenue totaled $333.7 billion in 2015, a 1.9 percent decrease from 2014 revenue of $340.3 billion, according to preliminary results by Gartner, Inc.
Viewpoints: 2016 outlookMon, 1 Jan 2016
Each year, Solid State Technology turns to industry leaders to hear viewpoints on the technological and economic outlook for the upcoming year. Read through these expert opinions on what to expect in 2016.
Semiconductor R&D growth slows in 2015Thu, 1 Jan 2016
Industry-wide R&D expenditures grew 0.5% to a record-high $56.4 billion in 2015. Top 10 R&D spenders collectively increased expenditures by nearly 2% in the year.
Foundries takeover 200mm fab capacity by 2018Mon, 2 Feb 2016
IoT drives worldwide 200mm fab capacity in 2018 back to 2006 levels.
Global semiconductor sales top $335B in 2015Mon, 2 Feb 2016
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced the global semiconductor industry posted sales totaling $335.2 billion in 2015, a slight decrease of 0.2 percent compared to the 2014 total, which was the industry's highest-ever sales total.
Cautious expectations amid a slow-growth global economyThu, 2 Feb 2016
The health of the IC industry is increasingly tied to the health of the worldwide economy. Rarely can there be strong IC market growth without at least a "good" worldwide economy to support it.
What's happening in the China market?Fri, 2 Feb 2016
A brief recap of China market news for January 2016.
Yield and cost challenges at 16nm and beyondMon, 2 Feb 2016
A new 5D solution utilizes multiple types of metrology systems to identify and control fab-wide sources of pattern variation, with an intelligent analysis system to handle the data being generated.
SUNY Poly, GLOBAL FOUNDRIES announce new $500M R&D programTue, 2 Feb 2016
SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) and GLOBALFOUNDRIES today announced the establishment of a new Advanced Patterning and Productivity Center (APPC), which will be located at the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) in Albany, N.Y.
Improved ion implant exhaust management reduces energy, capital costsTue, 2 Feb 2016
How Texas Instruments got greener, safer and saved money.
Another record year for silicon wafer shipment volumes in 2015Wed, 2 Feb 2016
Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased 3 percent in 2015 when compared to 2014 area shipments according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its year-end analysis of the silicon wafer industry.
Neon shortage comingThu, 2 Feb 2016
Semiconductor lithographic use of Neon is increasing more rapidly than expected for several reasons including the delay of EUVL while demand for finer line width patterning is increasing.
Taiwan passes South Korea to become #1 in total IC wafer fab capacityTue, 3 Mar 2016
IC Insights recently released its new Global Wafer Capacity 2016-2020 report that provides in-depth detail, analyses, and forecasts for IC industry capacity by wafer size, by process geometry, by region, and by product type through 2020.
Semiconductor capital spending rebound fails to materialize in 2015Tue, 2 Feb 2016
Recent capital spending trends indicative of maturing semiconductor industry.
Market for GaN and SiC power semiconductors to top $1B in 2020Wed, 3 Mar 2016
The emerging market for silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors is forecast to pass the $1 billion mark in five years, energized by demand from hybrid and electric vehicles, power supplies and photovoltaic (PV) inverters.
Slow but positive 2016 followed by double digits in 2017Thu, 3 Mar 2016
Front-end fab equipment spending (including new, used, and in-house) is projected to increase 3.7 percent in 2016 (to US$ 37.2 billion) and another 13 percent in 2017 (to $42.1 billion) according to most recent edition of the SEMI World Fab Forecast.
High-K precursors for ICs to reach ~$400M by 2020Mon, 3 Mar 2016
Chemical precursors (inorganic and organic) used to form high dielectric constant (High-K) materials, metals and metal nitrides needed in advanced ICs are forecasted to reach $400M USD in global sales by 2020, as highlighted in TECHCET's 2016 Critical Materials Report.
Process Watch: Reducing production costs with process controlFri, 3 Mar 2016
Adding process control reduces production costs and cycle time.
The United States leads growing global industrial semiconductor marketTue, 3 Mar 2016
The industrial semiconductor market will post an 8 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), as revenue rises from $43.5 billion in 2014 to $59.5 billion in 2019.
Trace metal contamination: Choosing elastomer materials for critical operationsFri, 3 Mar 2016
An exploration of where trace metals come from, the impact they have on the industry and what can be done to reduce the risks.
Impact of triboelectric charging from DI water on transistor gate damageWed, 3 Mar 2016
Optimized settings for DI water pressure at CMP and careful analysis of interconnect layout are used to improve quality on a complex analog design.
Chipmakers seek solution to neon gas supply shortageWed, 3 Mar 2016
Finding a short term solution to the neon gas shortage problem will be challenging.
Global semiconductor market slumps in 2015, IHS reportsMon, 4 Apr 2016
Weakness in end-market demand will cause revenue decay to extend into 2016 and beyond.
Global semiconductor sales dip slightly in FebruaryMon, 4 Apr 2016
Sales decrease 3.2 percent month-to-month and 6.2 percent year-to-year.
Number of 300mm IC wafer fabs expected to reach 100 in 2016Fri, 4 Apr 2016
High volume 450mm IC wafer fabs not expected until after 2020.
Samsung starts mass producing industry's first 10nm class DRAMTue, 4 Apr 2016
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced today that it has begun mass producing the industry's first 10-nanometer (nm) class, 8-gigabit (Gb) DDR4 (double-data-rate-4) DRAM chips and the modules derived from them.
Industry stakeholder collaboration helps enable success of next-gen HVMWed, 4 Apr 2016
As the microelectronics industry becomes more mature and products become more advanced, there is greater emphasis on improving process control deeper within the supply chain.
Process Watch: Yield management turns greenMon, 4 Apr 2016
As we celebrate Earth Day 2016, we commend the efforts of companies who have found ways to reduce their environmental impact.
14 IC product categories to exceed total IC market growth in 2016Tue, 4 Apr 2016
Cellphone App MPUs and Signal Conversion top the list; Tablet MPU growth stalls, DRAM tumbles.
ams breaks ground on NY wafer fabWed, 4 Apr 2016
ams AG (SIX: AMS) today took a step forward in its long-term strategy of increasing manufacturing capacity for its high-performance sensors and sensor solution integrated circuits (ICs), holding a groundbreaking event at the site of its new wafer fabrication plant in Utica, New York.
Many mixes to match litho appsFri, 4 Apr 2016
The world's leading lithographers gather each year in San Jose, California at SPIE's Advanced Lithography conference to discuss how to extend optical lithography. So of all the NGL technologies, which will win out in the end?
IEEE introduces new international roadmap for devices and systems to set the course for end-to-end computingWed, 5 May 2016
Together, this group will ensure alignment and consensus across a range of stakeholders to identify trends and develop the roadmap for all of the related technologies in the computer industry.
North America vital to advanced semiconductor manufacturingThu, 5 May 2016
North America has a long and rich history of semiconductor manufacturing and innovation.
Global semiconductor sales increase slightly in MarchFri, 5 May 2016
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) this week announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $26.1 billion for the month of March 2016, a slight increase of 0.3 percent compared to the previous month's total of $26.0 billion.
Studying post-etching silicon crystal defects on 300mm wafers by automatic defect review AFMMon, 5 May 2016
Atomic force microscopy is essential for obtaining three- dimensional information of crystal defects.
Worldwide semiconductor capital spending to decline 2 percent in 2016Wed, 5 May 2016
Worldwide semiconductor capital spending is projected to decline 2 percent in 2016, to $62.8 billion, according to Gartner, Inc. This is up from the estimated 4.7 percent decline in Gartner's previous quarterly forecast.
Seven Top-20 semiconductor suppliers show double-digit declinesThu, 5 May 2016
Qualcomm, Micron, and SK Hynix registered ≥25% drops, with total top-20 sales off by 6%.
EUVL: Taking it down to 5nmTue, 5 May 2016
The semiconductor industry is nothing if not persistent — it's been working away at developing extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) for many years.
IBM scientists achieve storage memory breakthroughWed, 5 May 2016
For the first time, scientists at IBM Research have demonstrated reliably storing 3 bits of data per cell using a relatively new memory technology known as phase-change memory (PCM).
Communications, computer systems drive IC sales across all regionsWed, 5 May 2016
Automotive systems forecast to remain a major application in Europe and Japan.
Long-term strategy pays off as TI maintains analog leadershipTue, 5 May 2016
Infineon, Skyworks Solutions move up, ST slips in shakeup of top analog suppliers of 2015.
Equipment spending up: 19 new fabs and lines to start constructionFri, 6 Jun 2016
While semiconductor fab equipment spending is off to a slow start in 2016, it is expected to gain momentum through the end of the year. For 2016, 1.5 percent growth over 2015 is expected while 13 percent growth is forecast in 2017.
Countdown to Node 5: Moving beyond FinFETsFri, 6 Jun 2016
A forum of industry experts at SEMICON West 2016 will discuss the challenges associated with getting from node 10 -- which seems set for HVM -- to nodes 7 and 5.
Global semiconductor sales decrease in April; Annual sales projected to dip slightly in 2016Fri, 6 Jun 2016
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) this week announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $25.8 billion for the month of April 2016.
Imec demonstrates gate-all-around MOSFETs with lateral silicon nanowires at scaled dimensionsThu, 6 Jun 2016
Today, at the 2016 Symposia on VLSI Technology & Circuits, nano-electronics research center imec presented gate-all-around (GAA) n- and p-MOSFET devices made of vertically stacked horizontal silicon (Si) nanowires (NWs) with a diameter of only 8nm.
Kicking off #TheConFab2016Mon, 6 Jun 2016
The ConFab 2016 kicked off this morning with speakers from GlobalFoundries, Silicon Catalyst, imec, TechInsights, CEA Leti, and New York Empire State Development.
Automotive semiconductor market grows slightly in 2015 while ranks shiftWed, 6 Jun 2016
Despite slower growth for the automotive industry and exchange rate fluctuations, the automotive semiconductor market grew at a modest 0.2 percent year over year, reaching $29 billion in 2015, according to IHS.
Process Watch: Process control and production cycle timeFri, 6 Jun 2016
In the early stages of development, having more process control can help reduce both the number and duration of cycles-of-learning (the iterations required to solve a particular problem).
ASML president to receive Robert N. Noyce AwardThu, 6 Jun 2016
Van den Brink will accept the award at the annual SIA Award Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 10 in San Jose, an event that will commemorate the 25thanniversary of the Noyce Award.
Record 10.4 BSI of silicon wafer shipped as revenues slipFri, 7 Jul 2016
The 2015 market for semiconductor silicon wafers fell 5.3% to $7.2B on a record 10.4 BSI Si shipped, according to a new report, "Silicon Wafers Market & Supply Chain 2016, a TECHCET Critical Materials Report."
SMIC acquires LFoundryMon, 6 Jun 2016
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation jointly announces with LFoundry Europe GmbH and Marsica Innovation S.p.A., the signing of an agreement on June 24, 2016 to purchase a 70% stake of LFoundry for a consideration of 49 million EUR.
IoT and mobile devices: Big market opportunities but more challenges towards security threatsTue, 7 Jul 2016
Assuring IoT security will require strategies to manage the entire value and supply chains.
200mm fabs reawakeningWed, 7 Jul 2016
Buoyed by strong investments in China, 200mm wafer production is seeing a re-awakening, with overall 200mm capacity expected to match its previous 2006 peak level by 2019.
Packaging and displays drive new litho requirementsWed, 7 Jul 2016
Fan-out wafer level packaging (FOWLP) is gaining traction, leading to higher I/Os and larger formats, and new mobile displays are pushing the limits of pixel per inch (PPI) while also moving to larger formats.
Coventor wins "Best of West" AwardWed, 7 Jul 2016
Solid State Technology and SEMI today announced the recipient of the 2016 "Best of West" Award — Coventor — for its SEMulator3D.
Three-in-one tool speeds bump inspectionTue, 7 Jul 2016
Last year, Rudolph Technologies, Inc. announced the widespread adoption and success of its newest macro defect inspection tool, the NSX 330 Series.
International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors examines next 15 years of chip innovationThu, 7 Jul 2016
Final installment of biannual report outlines short-term and long-term challenges and opportunities facing semiconductor technology.
China's final chance to achieve its IC industry ambitions now underwayWed, 7 Jul 2016
Over the past 20 years, China has become increasingly frustrated over the gap between its IC imports and indigenous IC production
What's happening to Japan's semiconductor industry?Thu, 7 Jul 2016
The 2016 global semiconductor market is forecast to decrease by 2.4 percent from the previous year according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS).
Power semiconductor market revenues declineThu, 8 Aug 2016
Overall revenue for the power semiconductors market globally dropped slightly in 2015, due primarily to macroeconomic factors and application-specific issues.
DRAM on track to be worst-performing market in 2016Thu, 8 Aug 2016
16% plunge in DRAM ASP expected to lead to 19% DRAM market decline.
Evolution of across-wafer uniformity control in plasma etchFri, 8 Aug 2016
A look at control of process uniformity across the wafer during plasma etch processes.
Seven Top-20 semiconductor suppliers show double-digit gains in 2Q16Mon, 8 Aug 2016
MediaTek and AMD register the fastest 2Q16/1Q16 growth rates of 32% and 23%, respectively.
Advancements in RH measurement in wafer and reticle environmentsThu, 8 Aug 2016
These RH control requirements create a need for a wireless wafer-like humidity sensor which simultaneously measures RH at several points across the wafer as well as throughout the entire IC manufacturing environment.
GlobalWafers to acquire SunEdison SemiconductorThu, 8 Aug 2016
GlobalWafers Co., Ltd. and SunEdison Semiconductor Limited (NASDAQ:SEMI) announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition by GlobalWafers of all of the outstanding ordinary shares of SunEdison Semiconductor in a transaction valued at US$683 million, including SunEdison Semiconductor outstanding net indebtedness.
TowerJazz and SMIC's sales forecast to surge in 2016Tue, 8 Aug 2016
Total pure-play foundry market expected to jump 9% this year, up from 6% growth in 2015.
MCU market forecast to reach record high revenues through 2020Tue, 8 Aug 2016
After recent years of price erosion, MCU ASPs are forecast to rise and help lift sales to new highs.
Enabling industry collaboration to address critical ATE challengesThu, 9 Sep 2016
For many years, the ATE industry has been challenged with controlling the cost of both production and development test by implementing innovative approaches and employing clever strategies (e.g., multi-site test implementation, DFT, etc.) to make "ends" meet, so to speak.
Fab equipment spending ascendingThu, 9 Sep 2016
Expect 4% growth (YoY) for 2016 and 11% for 2017
Asia-Pacific to top 2016 regional IC sales in major system categoriesWed, 9 Sep 2016
Government/Military only end-use segment where Asia-Pacific does not have top IC marketshare.
Moore's Law did indeed stop at 28nmMon, 9 Sep 2016
As we have predicted two and a half years back, the industry is bifurcating, and just a few products pursue scaling to 7nm while the majority of designs stay on 28nm or older nodes.
≤200mm semiconductor manufacturing is here to stayTue, 9 Sep 2016
Ted Shafer of ASML reports on the highlights from the ≤200mm manufacturing session during SEMICON West, organized by the SEMI Secondary Equipment and Applications Special Interest Group.
Solid State Technology announces expanded conference for The ConFab 2017Wed, 9 Sep 2016
The conference and networking event, will be held at the iconic Hotel del Coronado in San Diego on May 14-17, 2017.
2016 a sequel to last year's M&A maniaWed, 9 Sep 2016
Value of semiconductor industry M&A agreements already over $50 billion this year.
Process Watch: Salami slicing your yieldMon, 9 Sep 2016
The Process Watch series explores key concepts about process control -- defect inspection and metrology -- for the semiconductor industry. This new series of articles highlights additional trends in process control, including successful implementation strategies and the benefits for IC manufacturing.
Leading-edge leads the way in pure-play foundry growthWed, 9 Sep 2016
Sales of ICs built using <40nm process technology forecast to rise 23% at pure-play foundries.
Global semiconductor industry posts largest monthly sales increase in 3 yearsWed, 10 Oct 2016
August sales up 3.5 percent compared to July, increase year-to-year for first time in more than a year.
KLA-Tencor, Lam Research call off merger dealThu, 10 Oct 2016
The parties decided to it was not in the best interests of their respective stakeholders to continue pursuing the merger after the U.S. Department of Justice advised KLA-Tencor and Lam Research that it would not continue with a consent decree that the parties had been negotiating.
Companies maximizing 300mm, 200mm wafer capacityFri, 10 Oct 2016
Reliance on existing wafer sizes increases as near-term outlook for 450mm wafers fades.
200mm fabs on the riseTue, 10 Oct 2016
Examining 200mm capacity over the years, the highest level of 200mm capacity was recorded in 2007 and the lowest following this peak in 2009.
2016 wafer demand grows while semiconductor chip revenue declines, says Semico ResearchTue, 10 Oct 2016
Total wafer demand is expected to return to historical growth rates over the next five years. However, what is uncharacteristic of the past is the wide range of decline and growth that will be logged by specific product categories and technologies.
Wafer shipments forecast to increase in 2016, 2017 and 2018Thu, 10 Oct 2016
SEMI recently completed its annual silicon shipment forecast for the semiconductor industry. This forecast provides an outlook for the demand in silicon units for the period 2016–2018.
Gigaphoton's EUV pilot light source sets new world record by achieving 5% conversion efficiencyThu, 10 Oct 2016
Gigaphoton Inc., a manufacturer of light sources used in lithography, has announced success in achieving a world record 5% conversion efficiency with 100W of average output in stable operation and a high duty rate of 95%.
Qualcomm to acquire NXPThu, 10 Oct 2016
Qualcomm Incorporated and NXP Semiconductors N.V. today announced a definitive agreement, unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, under which Qualcomm will acquire NXP.
Managing particle flows in process exhaust for safety and profitabilityFri, 10 Oct 2016
Solid particles in the abatement exhaust must be properly managed, and in some cases, substantially reduced from the gas stream before it is released into the environment.
van der Pauw and Hall voltage measurements with a parameter analyzerMon, 10 Oct 2016
van der Pauw measurements with a parameter analyzer are examined followed by a look at Hall effects measurements.
Global semiconductor sales increase 11.5% in Q3Tue, 11 Nov 2016
Industry posts highest-ever quarterly sales; market still behind 2015's year-to-date total.
ZEISS and ASML strengthen partnership for next generation of EUV lithography due in early 2020sThu, 11 Nov 2016
Netherlands-based ASML Holding NV, a chip industry equipment provider, and Germany-based Carl Zeiss SMT, a business group of Carl Zeiss AG (ZEISS), have agreed to strengthen their long-standing and successful partnership in the semiconductor lithography business.
Samsung expands its advanced foundry offerings with 14LPU and 10LPU processesThu, 11 Nov 2016
The new foundry process offerings as well as EUV-enabled 7nm wafer are presented at the Samsung Foundry Forum.
President's Council launches semiconductor working groupTue, 11 Nov 2016
Tthe President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) announced the formation of a new working group focused on strengthening the U.S. semiconductor industry in ways that benefit the nation's economic and security interests.
New record for silicon-based multi-junction solar cellWed, 11 Nov 2016
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE together with the Austrian company EV Group (EVG) have successfully manufactured a silicon-based multi-junction solar cell with two contacts and an efficiency exceeding the theoretical limit of silicon solar cells.
Siemens announces plans to acquire Mentor Graphics in $4.5B dealMon, 11 Nov 2016
Siemens and Mentor Graphics today announced that they have entered into a merger agreement under which Siemens will acquire Mentor for an enterprise value of $4.5 billion.
IoT and automotive to drive IC market growth through 2020Wed, 11 Nov 2016
New report also projects good IC sales increases in medical electronics, digital TVs, and servers.
Simple processing technique could cut cost of organic PV and wearable electronicsMon, 12 Dec 2016
A simple solution-based electrical doping technique could help reduce the cost of polymer solar cells and organic electronic devices, potentially expanding the applications for these technologies.
Five suppliers to hold 41% of global semiconductor marketshare in 2016Wed, 12 Dec 2016
Two years of busy M&A activity boost marketshare among top suppliers.
Global semiconductor sales increase 5% year-over-year in OctoberThu, 12 Dec 2016
The global semiconductor market has rebounded in recent months, with October marking the largest year-to-year sales increase since March 2015.
Semiconductor equipment sales forecast: $40 BillionTue, 12 Dec 2016
SEMI today reported that worldwide sales of new semiconductor manufacturing equipment are projected to increase 8.7 percent to $39.7 billion in 2016.
New fab facilities: China dominates, followed by Americas and TaiwanWed, 12 Dec 2016
The 62 facilities and lines range from R&D to high-volume fabs. Most of the newly operating facilities will be volume fabs; only seven are R&Ds or Pilot facilities.
Number of IC manufacturers using 300mm wafers less than half using 200mm wafersFri, 12 Dec 2016
Reliance on existing wafer sizes increases as outlook for 450mm wafers fades.
62 new facilities start operation 2017 and beyondMon, 12 Dec 2016
Data from SEMI's recently updated World Fab Forecast report reveal that 62 new Front End facilities will begin operation between 2017 and 2020.
Total memory market forecast to increase 10% in 2017Tue, 12 Dec 2016
After two years of decline, firming ASPs for DRAM and NAND flash will boost overall memory sales.
Process Watch: Hitback analysis improves defect visibilityTue, 12 Dec 2016
In order to maximize the profitability of an IC manufacturer's new process node or product introduction, an early and fast yield ramp is required. Key to achieving this rapid yield ramp is the ability to provide quality and actionable data to the engineers making decisions on process quality and needed improvements.
Global semiconductor sales up 7% year-to-yearWed, 1 Jan 2017
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $31.0 billion for the month of November 2016, an increase of 7.4 percent compared to the November 2015 total.
Memory market poised for strongest annual growth through 2021Mon, 1 Jan 2017
Solid upside potential for DRAM, flash memory markets in 2017 and much of forecast period.
Pure-play foundry market surges 11% in 2016 to reach $50BThu, 1 Jan 2017
X-Fab, SMIC, and TowerJazz each grew by ≥30% last year.
Worldwide semiconductor capital spending is forecast to grow 2.9% in 2017Thu, 1 Jan 2017
Worldwide semiconductor capital spending is projected to increase 2.9 percent in 2017, to $69.9 billion, according to Gartner, Inc.
Fire, rain, and M&AThu, 1 Jan 2017
The expert panel, "The Future of M&A in the Semiconductor Industry," was a hot topic at SEMI's Industry Strategy Symposium (ISS) conference on January 11.
Market for power semiconductors in automotive to rev up by $3B by 2022Thu, 1 Jan 2017
Demand to soar due to big electrification in vehicles.
2015-2016 deals dominate semiconductor M&A rankingFri, 1 Jan 2017
U.S. companies making acquisitions accounted for more than half of the value in announced transactions in the last two years, while Asia-Pacific represented 23%.
Executive viewpoints: 2017 outlookWed, 1 Jan 2017
Each year, Solid State Technology turns to industry leaders to hear viewpoints on the technological and economic outlook for the upcoming year. Read through these expert opinions on what to expect in 2017.
China's role in supply chains continues to growMon, 1 Jan 2017
Slight shift in sourcing from U.S. to Mexico, India, and Asia; most companies taking cautious approach to sourcing outside home region in 2017.
Without technology, China's "MIC 2025" results for ICs likely to fall woefully short of its goalsWed, 2 Feb 2017
IC Insights believes China's self-sufficiency targets for ICs of 40% in 2020 and 70% in 2025 are unrealistic.
Samsung and Apple continued to lead as top global semiconductor customers in 2016Wed, 2 Feb 2017
Samsung Electronics and Apple remained the top two semiconductor chip buyers in 2016, representing 18.2 percent of the total worldwide market, according to Gartner, Inc.
Global semiconductor sales reach $339B in 2016Fri, 2 Feb 2017
Worldwide industry posts highest-ever annual sales; year-to-year sales increase 12 percent in December.
Annual silicon volume shipments remain at record highsTue, 2 Feb 2017
Revenues continue to be under pressure.
IC market growth limited by narrow window of global GDP expansionThu, 2 Feb 2017
Significant and noticeable IC market growth closely tied to significant worldwide GDP growth.
Intel announces $7B investment in next-gen semiconductor fab in ArizonaThu, 2 Feb 2017
The announcement was made by U.S. President Donald Trump and Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at the White House.
GlobalFoundries reveals expansion plansFri, 2 Feb 2017
The company is investing in its existing leading-edge fabs in the United States and Germany, expanding its footprint in China with a fab in Chengdu, and adding capacity for mainstream technologies in Singapore.
Intel continues to drive semiconductor industry R&D spendingThu, 2 Feb 2017
Among Top-10 R&D spenders, Intel accounted for 36% of R&D outlays.
Huge growth in cloud memory changes semiconductor supply chainFri, 2 Feb 2017
The explosive growth in demand for internet bandwidth and cloud computing capacity brings a new set of technology challenges and opportunities for the semiconductor supply chain.
Industry 4.0: What does it mean to the semiconductor industry?Fri, 12 Dec 2016
Adding intelligence to materials and products facilitates the fully decentralized operations model associated with Industry 4.0.
Taiwan maintains largest share of global IC wafer fab capacityThu, 2 Feb 2017
South Korea narrows gap with Taiwan; China shows biggest increase, accounts for nearly 11%.
Eleven companies forecast to account for 78% of semi capex in 2017Thu, 3 Mar 2017
Three of the top 11 companies are expected to increase capex spending by 25% or more.
January semiconductor sales up 14% compared to last yearMon, 3 Mar 2017
Year-to-year growth is market's largest since November 2010; month-to-month sales decrease slightly.
Record spending for fab equipment expected in 2017 and 2018Tue, 3 Mar 2017
Today, SEMI announced updates to its World Fab Forecast report, revealing that fab equipment spending is expected to reach an industry all-time record − more than US$46 billion in 2017.
Semiconductor shipments dominated by opto-sensor-discrete devicesFri, 3 Mar 2017
Updated forecast shows total semiconductor shipments surpassing one trillion devices in 2018.
U.S. companies still hold largest share of fabless company IC salesThu, 3 Mar 2017
Largest fabless IC marketshare increase has come from Chinese suppliers, who now hold a 10% share.
IC Insights more than doubles its 2017 IC market growth forecastThu, 3 Mar 2017
Huge spike in DRAM and NAND flash ASPs prompts market forecast revision to 11% increase.
Global MRAM market to grow at an impressive CAGR of 94% through 2021, says TechnavioFri, 3 Mar 2017
Technavio market research analysts forecast the global MRAM market to grow at a CAGR of close to 94% during the forecast period, according to their latest report.
IEEE unveils next lifecycle phase of the IRDS to drive computing industry beyond Moore's LawFri, 3 Mar 2017
Series of nine white papers mark milestone effort for strategic initiative that identifies challenges and solutions to help guide future roadmaps.
Global semiconductor sales up 16.5% year-to-yearTue, 4 Apr 2017
Year-to-year sales increased by double digits across most regional markets, with the China and Americas markets showing particularly strong growth.
DDR4 set to account for largest share of DRAM market by architectureFri, 4 Apr 2017
DDR4 and DDR3 forecast to represent 97% of sizzling 2017 DRAM market.
Gartner: Worldwide semiconductor revenue forecast to increase 12.3% in 2017Fri, 4 Apr 2017
Worldwide semiconductor revenue is forecast to total $386 billion in 2017, an increase of 12.3 percent from 2016, according to Gartner, Inc.
Global semiconductor wafer-level equipment revenue to grow 11% in 2016Thu, 4 Apr 2017
Worldwide semiconductor wafer-level manufacturing equipment (WFE) revenue totaled $37.4 billion in 2016, an 11.3 percent increase from 2015, according to final results by Gartner, Inc.
Process Watch: Having confidence in your confidence levelThu, 4 Apr 2017
This new series of articles highlights additional trends in process control, including successful implementation strategies and the benefits for IC manufacturing.
FD-SOI: How a pioneering technology entered mainstream marketsThu, 4 Apr 2017
With its unique characteristics, FD-SOI is generating increasingly strong interest from major players in the semiconductor ecosystem for a very wide range of markets.
First EUV lithography high-volume manufacturing solution for N5 BEOLThu, 4 Apr 2017
Immersion-based self-aligned quadruple patterning is combined with EUV lithography block patterning to achieve metal layers with pitches as small as 32nm.
NXP acquires Freescale, becomes top MCU supplier in 2016Fri, 4 Apr 2017
MCU suppliers aligning themselves to be at the epicenter of big-growth opportunities in IoT, automotive, and other emerging systems.
Samsung poised to become world's largest semi supplier in 2Q17Mon, 5 May 2017
Intel could yield the #1 position it has held since 1993.
Infineon rides automotive wave into Top-10 semi supplier rankingTue, 5 May 2017
Memory market surge propels SK Hynix and Micron up two spots in the top-10 ranking.
WIN Semiconductor increases wafer manufacturing capacity by 20%Thu, 5 May 2017
WIN Semiconductors Corp has completed phase 2 expansion at its newest wafer fab, Fab C.
China's semiconductor industry and "win-win" growthMon, 5 May 2017
As China embarks on the Made in China 2025 plan with electronics and semiconductor technology as one of the Top 10 focus areas, China's semiconductor industry has an unprecedented growth opportunity.
"Billion Dollar Capex Club" forecast to swell to 15 companies in 2017Thu, 6 Jun 2017
Top spenders expected to represent 83% of total semiconductor industry spending this year.
IBM Research Alliance builds new transistor for 5nm technologyMon, 6 Jun 2017
Less than two years since announcing a 7nm test chip, scientists have achieved another breakthrough.
Volatility in electronic equipment supply chainThu, 6 Jun 2017
SEMI's year-to-date worldwide semiconductor equipment billings year-to-date through March show a 59.6 percent gain to the same period last year.
Record fab spending for 2017 and 2018Tue, 6 Jun 2017
In 2017, over US$49 billion will be spent on equipment alone, a record for the semiconductor industry. Spending on new fab construction is projected to reach over $8 billion, the second largest year on record.
Supply chain needs paradigm shift in how to look at defect controlWed, 6 Jun 2017
The future of contamination control in the next-generation supply chain for beyond 14nm-node semiconductor processes faces stringent challenges.
Long-term IoT semiconductor forecast reducedThu, 6 Jun 2017
Total IoT forecast scaled back mostly because of lower revenue projections for connected cities.
The drive to smart manufacturingFri, 6 Jun 2017
What does Smart Manufacturing mean for the future of the electronics manufacturing supply chain?
Fast and precise surface measurement of back-grinding silicon wafersFri, 6 Jun 2017
A new type of scattered light measurement method will be presented, capable of measuring the full wafer surface of a 300 mm wafer in less than 30 seconds. Besides the roughness, the sensor simultaneously measures warpage, waviness and defects.
What TechInsights analysts are watching in 2017Mon, 6 Jun 2017
TechInsights analysts share their view on where technology is going, how it's changing, and what new developments are emerging.
How SEMI Standard E175 is saving energy and cutting costsTue, 6 Jun 2017
Industry experts answer questions about the new standard in a virtual roundtable.
SEMI and Solid State Technology announce 2017 "Best of West" Award finalistsWed, 6 Jun 2017
Each year at SEMICON West, the "Best of West" awards are presented by Solid State Technology and SEMI.
Latest outlook for industrial semiconductor growthThu, 6 Jun 2017
Worldwide industrial semiconductor revenues grew by 3.8 percent year-over-year in 2016, to $43.5 billion, according to the latest analysis from business information provider IHS Markit.
Semiconductor advances could enable endless complexity increaseTue, 7 Jul 2017
Speaking at imec's International Technology Forum USA yesterday afternoon at the Marriott Marquis, Luc Van den Hove, president and CEO of imec, provided a glimpse of society's future and explained how semiconductor technology will play a key role.
Semiconductor content in electronic systems forecast to set new record in 2017Fri, 7 Jul 2017
Semiconductor content expected to reach 28.1% this year, breaking previous high of 25.9% set in 2010.
PLAT4M matures three silicon photonic platformsFri, 7 Jul 2017
Leti today announced that the European FP7 project PLAT4M has now been completed with results that exceeded expectations.
IC deposition materials market forecast of $1.2B by 2021Mon, 7 Jul 2017
Precursors for metals and dielectrics in strong demand for finFETs and 3D-NAND.
SUNY Poly awarded $720,000 by U.S. Department of Energy for next-generation semiconductor researchThu, 7 Jul 2017
Grant from Energy Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy supports further development of cutting-edge gallium nitride-based power electronics at SUNY Poly.
Value of semiconductor industry M&A deals slows dramatically in 1H17Tue, 7 Jul 2017
Numerous smaller deals have been made but "megadeals" have yet to surface this year.
Laser debonding for ultrathin and stacked fan out packagesThu, 7 Jul 2017
Fan-out packaging is an established technology for many mobile applications. Whereas early semiconductor packages have been single-chip packages, the continuing trend of expanding the wiring surface to support increased functionality has led to more complex packages, stacked packages, systems inpackageaswellashigh-performancepackages. With this development, fan-out technology is bridging a gap between cost-competitive packaging and high performance.
Overcoming challenges in 3D NAND volume manufacturingThu, 7 Jul 2017
As 3D NAND becomes the mainstream technology, its challenging roadmap poses opportunities for continued innovation.
Silicon wafer shortage starts in 2018Mon, 7 Jul 2017
TECHCET's model shows all slack soon gone from supply-chain for both 300mm and 200mm diameter.
Mid-year global semiconductor sales up 21% compared to 2016Fri, 8 Aug 2017
Q2 sales are highest on record, 5.8 percent more than previous quarter, 23.7 percent higher than Q2 of last year.
Worldwide semiconductor capital spending is forecast to grow 10.2% in 2017Mon, 8 Aug 2017
Worldwide semiconductor capital spending is projected to increase 10.2 percent in 2017, to $77.7 billion, according to Gartner, Inc.
Global GaAs wafers market to grow at a CAGR of 11.9% by 2021Mon, 8 Aug 2017
The global gallium arsenide wafer market to decline at a CAGR of 11.9% during the period 2017-2021.
SIA statement regarding Trump Administration action to protect U.S. intellectual property in foreign marketsWed, 8 Aug 2017
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) released a statement in response to the Trump Administration's decision to set in motion a process led by the United States Trade Representative to investigate China's unfair trade practices.
Semiconductor industry capital spending forecast to jump 20% in 2017Tue, 8 Aug 2017
Samsung remains the "wild card" with regard to 2H17 capital expenditures.
Researchers validate UV light's use in improving semiconductorsTue, 8 Aug 2017
A discovery by two scientists at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) could aid the development of next-generation semiconductor devices.
Most of 2017 capital spending will go to foundry and flash memoryThu, 8 Aug 2017
Spending for DRAM expected to show biggest percentage gain in 2017.
The ConFab announces mainstream semiconductor and emerging technologies 2018 conference focusMon, 8 Aug 2017
The ConFab – an exclusive conference and networking event for semiconductor manufacturing and design executives from leading device makers, OEMs, OSATs, fabs, suppliers and fabless/design companies – announces the 2018 event will be held at THE COSMOPOLITAN of LAS VEGAS on May 20-23.
SiC & GaN technologies upset the traditional benchmarks of the IGBT industryFri, 9 Sep 2017
How is the IGBT market evolving for different applications? How will the IGBT market face the adoption of high performance WBG based devices?
Securing talent to connect, collaborate and innovateWed, 9 Sep 2017
Our industry has a significant need for additional workers and several trends are working against us.
Lam Research acquires CoventorFri, 9 Sep 2017
Lam Research Corporation announced that it has completed the acquisition of Coventor, Inc.
Global semiconductor sales increase 24% year-to-year in JulyFri, 9 Sep 2017
Worldwide sales up 3 percent compared to previous month; Americas market leads the way with growth of 36 percent year-to-year and 5 percent month-to month.
Fab equipment spending breaking industry recordsTue, 9 Sep 2017
2017 fab equipment spending (new and refurbished) is expected to increase by 37 percent, reaching a new annual spending record of about US$55 billion.
The adversarial relationship of the DRAM user and producer continuesTue, 9 Sep 2017
Over the full market cycle, each side presses its advantage as much as possible.
Soitec launches FD-SOI pilot line in SingaporeWed, 9 Sep 2017
This is the first stage in beginning FD-SOI production in Singapore and providing multi-site FD-SOI substrate sourcing to the global semiconductor market.
Semiconductor industry records best second quarter in three yearsThu, 9 Sep 2017
Despite a slightly down first quarter, the semiconductor industry achieved near record growth in the second quarter of 2017, posting a 6.1 percent growth from the previous quarter, according to IHS Markit.
Leading-edge paves the way for pure-play foundry growthWed, 9 Sep 2017
Sales of ICs built using <40nm process technology forecast to rise 18% at pure-play foundries.
DSA and EUV: Complementary technologies to enable fine- pitch lithographyFri, 9 Sep 2017
DSA and EUV should be envisioned as complementary, not competing, techniques that will eventually become mainstream for fine-pitch lithography.
Laser marking meets diverse challenges in fab and packagingFri, 9 Sep 2017
The basics of laser marking are reviewed, as well as current and emerging laser technologies.
Measuring metals, dielectrics, resists and CDs in advanced packagingMon, 9 Sep 2017
A new system combines acoustic, optical and reflectometric techniques to enable measurement of metals, dielectrics, resists and critical dimensions on a single platform.
Comparing XPoint memory architecture with NAND and DRAM productsTue, 10 Oct 2017
There has been a great deal of speculation around the composition of Intel's Optane XPoint memory technology. TechInsights set about to find answers.
Monthly semiconductor sales reach $35B globally for first time in AugustWed, 10 Oct 2017
Worldwide sales up 24 percent year-to-year and 4 percent month-to-month; Americas market leads the way with growth of 39 percent year-to-year and 9 percent month-to month.
Pure-play foundries boosting their presence in ChinaThu, 10 Oct 2017
With fabless companies in China on the rise, the country is expected to account for 13% share of pure-play foundry sales in 2017.
Power semiconductor sales rebounded in 2016 and will continue to grow through 2021Thu, 10 Oct 2017
Global power semiconductor revenues grew year-over-year by 3.9 percent in 2016, reversing a 4.8 percent decline in 2015.
A massive adoption of laser technologies for semiconductor manufacturingWed, 10 Oct 2017
According to Yole Développement (Yole), the laser equipment market will grow at a 15% CAGR between 2016 and 2022 and should reach more than US$4 billion by 2022.
Intel delivers 17-qubit superconducting chip with advanced packaging to QuTechThu, 10 Oct 2017
The new chip was fabricated by Intel and features a unique design to achieve improved yield and performance.
IC makers maximize 300mm, 200mm wafer capacityFri, 10 Oct 2017
A total of 25 new 300mm wafer fabs is expected between 2016 and 2021 as the outlook for 450mm wafers fades.
China IC industry outlookTue, 10 Oct 2017
With an increasing presence in the global semiconductor manufacturing supply chain, the market opportunities in China are expanding dramatically.
IC Insights raises 2017 IC market forecast to +22%Thu, 10 Oct 2017
Strong growth to be driven by a 74% surge in the DRAM market and 44% jump in the NAND flash market.
GlobalFoundries' momentum in ChinaMon, 10 Oct 2017
Company shares details of technology roadmap and customer adoption in the world's fastest-growing market for semiconductors.
Deep-depletion: A new concept for MOSFETsThu, 10 Oct 2017
An international team of researchers has created a proof of concept that uses the deep-depletion regime in bulk-boron-doped diamond MOSFETs to increase hole channel carrier mobility.
NREL research yields significant thermoelectric performanceWed, 11 Nov 2017
Addition of thin films to fabrics could power portable electronics, sensors.
Global semiconductor industry posts highest-ever quarterly salesWed, 11 Nov 2017
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $107.9 billion for the third quarter of 2017, marking the industry's highest-ever quarterly sales and an increase of 10.2 percent compared to the previous quarter.
Broadcom proposes to acquire QualcommMon, 11 Nov 2017
The Broadcom proposal stands whether Qualcomm's pending acquisition of NXP Semiconductors N.V. is consummated on the currently disclosed terms of $110 per NXP share or the transaction is terminated.
How to solve the BEOL RC delay problem?Tue, 11 Nov 2017
The RC delay issues started a few nodes ago, and the problems are becoming worse.
The intelligence that leads to artificial intelligenceWed, 11 Nov 2017
Artificial intelligence (AI) may be a hot topic today, but SEMI has helped to incubate Big Data and AI since its founding.
Transfer technique produces wearable gallium nitride gas sensorsFri, 11 Nov 2017
A transfer technique based on thin sacrificial layers of boron nitride could allow high-performance gallium nitride gas sensors to be grown on sapphire substrates and then transferred to metallic or flexible polymer support materials.
Gigaphoton announces new roadmap for DUV light sourceTue, 11 Nov 2017
Gigaphoton Inc., a manufacturer of light sources used in semiconductor lithography, announced its intention to draw up a new roadmap with the aim of improving the availability of the equipment, and also to respond to the needs of the semiconductor chip manufacturers who are being confronted with increasingly high demands.
Will Samsung's 2017 semi capex deliver knockout blow to competition?Wed, 11 Nov 2017
The company's $26 billion in 2017 outlays expected to be more than Intel and TSMC combined.
Semiconductor industry continues upward trend toward record yearThu, 11 Nov 2017
The semiconductor industry continued its upward trend in the third quarter of 2017, notching 12 percent sequential growth with strength across all application markets, according to IHS Markit.
Broad 3Q 2017 growth - Both globally and in EuropeMon, 12 Dec 2017
The third quarter of this year has seen broad growth both globally and also for the European electronic supply chain.
Soitec announces substrate breakthrough for 3D image sensing devicesThu, 11 Nov 2017
Soitec, a designer and manufacturer of semiconductor materials for the electronics industry, today announced the latest generation of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates in its Imager-SOI product line designed specifically for fabricating front-side imagers for near-infrared (NIR) applications including advanced 3D image sensors.
Google's head of Quantum AI Lab to keynote at The ConFab 2018Fri, 12 Dec 2017
The ConFab 2018, to be held at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on May 21-23, is thrilled to announce the newest opening day Keynote speaker, Professor John M. Martinis.
Reveal previously invisible defects and contaminants in advanced packaging applicationsTue, 12 Dec 2017
A new illumination technology compares favorably to conventional bright field illumination.
Global semiconductor sales increase 21.9% year-to-year in OctoberTue, 12 Dec 2017
October marked the global industry's largest-ever monthly sales total.
Leti integrates hybrid III-V silicon lasers on 200mm wafers using standard CMOS processWed, 12 Dec 2017
Leti, a research institute of CEA Tech, has integrated hybrid III-V silicon lasers on 200mm wafers using standard CMOS process flow.
Industry enters the age of WOWWed, 12 Dec 2017
The semiconductor industry has been there before, with large increases in investments followed by dramatic downturns. While the most dramatic downturns, 2001 and 2009, were due to, in a large part, acro-economic factors, the industry has typically observed one to two years of increased investment spending followed by a down period. This time around, the industry will achieve a "WOW" with three consecutive years of fab investment growth, a pattern not observed since the mid-1990s.
$55.9B semiconductor equipment forecast: New record with Korea at topTue, 12 Dec 2017
Today, SEMI, the global industry association representing the electronics manufacturing supply chain, released its Year-end Forecast at the annual SEMICON Japan exposition.
APAC tops the global mask alignment systems marketFri, 12 Dec 2017
The global mask alignment systems market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 9% during the forecast period, according to Technavio's latest market research.
SEMI data projects new highs in fab equipment spendingWed, 1 Jan 2018
The year-end update to the SEMI World Fab Forecast report reveals 2017 spending on fab equipment investments will reach an all-time high of $57 billion.
Surprising changes in semiconductor equipment market share in 2017Thu, 1 Jan 2018
Through three quarters of calendar year 2017, market shares of top semiconductor equipment manufacturers indicate large gains by Tokyo Electron and Lam Research.
IHS Markit identifies the top eight technology trends for 2018Thu, 1 Jan 2018
From the Internet of Things to the cloud to artificial intelligence, industries are seeing a new wave of technologies that have the potential to transform and significantly impact the world around us.
Process Watch: The (automotive) problem with semiconductorsThu, 1 Jan 2018
This article is the first in a five-part series on semiconductors in the automotive industry. In this article, we introduce some of the challenges involved in the automotive supply chain. Future articles in the series will address specific process control solutions to those challenges.
Worldwide semiconductor revenue grew 22.2% in 2017; Samsung takes over No. 1 positionThu, 1 Jan 2018
Worldwide semiconductor revenue totalled $419.7 billion in 2017, a 22.2 percent increase from 2016, according to preliminary results by Gartner, Inc. Undersupply helped drive 64 percent revenue growth in the memory market, which accounted for 31 percent of total semiconductor revenue in 2017.
Korea is at full throttle on memory investmentsWed, 1 Jan 2018
2017 proved to be record-setting year for the semiconductor industry. According to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS), worldwide semiconductor market will have grown 20 percent, exceeding $400 billion for the first time.
Value of semiconductor industry M&A deals slows dramatically in 2017Thu, 1 Jan 2018
Numerous smaller deals were made but "megadeals" were scarce last year.
Worldwide semiconductor revenue forecast to grow 7.5% in 2018Mon, 1 Jan 2018
Worldwide semiconductor revenue is forecast to total $451 billion in 2018, an increase of 7.5 percent from $419 billion in 2017, according to Gartner, Inc.
Year End Wow!Wed, 1 Jan 2018
2017 ended on a high note from an end market perspective.
Turbulent times ahead for tradeThu, 1 Jan 2018
International trade is one of the best tools to spur growth and create high-skill and high-paying jobs. Over 40 million American jobs rely on trade, and this is particularly true in the semiconductor supply chain. Over the past three decades, the semiconductor industry has averaged nearly double-digit growth rates in revenue and, by 2030, the semiconductor supply chain is forecast to reach $1 trillion.
Quantum race accelerates development of silicon quantum chipFri, 1 Jan 2018
The worldwide race to create more, better and reliable quantum processors is progressing fast, as a team of TU Delft scientists led by Professor Vandersypen has realised yet again. In a neck-and-neck race with their competitors, they showed that quantum information of an electron spin can be transported to a photon, in a silicon quantum chip.
Seoul Semiconductor achieves $1.04B record annual revenues for fiscal year 2017Tue, 1 Jan 2018
The 16% rise in consolidated revenues far exceeds the industry average, which grew 2% during the same period.
Smart manufacturing fuels digital transformation: Takeaways from SEMI Member ForumThu, 2 Feb 2018
Driven by emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and big data, the digital transformation has become an irreversible trend for the electronics manufacturing industry. The global market for smart manufacturing and smart factory technologies is expected to reach US$250 billion in 2018.
IHS Markit identifies top trends driving the Internet of Things in 2018 and beyondFri, 2 Feb 2018
Driven by the need for intelligent connected devices in industrial and commercial applications, the number of connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices globally will grow to more than 31 billion in 2018, according to new analysis from business information provider IHS Markit
Annual semiconductor sales increase 21.6%, top $400B for first timeMon, 2 Feb 2018
Global industry posts highest-ever annual, quarterly, and monthly sales.
Lam Research and Tokyo Electron gained in full year 2017 semiconductor equipment market sharesTue, 2 Feb 2018
Market shares of top semiconductor equipment manufacturers for the full year 2017 indicate large gains by Tokyo Electron and Lam Research while top supplier Applied Materials dropped.
First Trump State of the Union address: How it stacks up against SEMI public policy prioritiesWed, 2 Feb 2018
SEMI evaluates the implications of the SOTU address for Trade, Taxes, Technology, Talent and other SEMI public policy priorities.
New IC manufacturing lines to boost total industry wafer capacity 8%Thu, 2 Feb 2018
Wafer capacity growth of 8% forecast for 2018 and 2019 versus 4.8% average yearly growth from 2012-2017.
Mass production of new class of semiconductors closer to realityFri, 2 Feb 2018
Two Waterloo chemists have made it easier for manufacturers to produce a new class of faster and cheaper semiconductors.
ASML increases its dominance of semiconductor lithography market in 2017Mon, 2 Feb 2018
ASML's dominance in the semiconductor equipment market continued in 2017, according to the report "Sub-100nm Lithography: Market Analysis and Strategic Issues," recently published by The Information Network.
SEMI China President Lung Chu leads mayor roundtable discussion at International IoT Summit in Silicon ValleyWed, 2 Feb 2018
Yawning differences between cultures, economic systems and rules of law stand as barriers for many China- and US-based technology companies to do business on each other's soil, making it imperative for both countries to work together to bridge the gaps that make it harder for tech businesses in each country to find partners and open markets in the other, SEMI China president Lung Chu said at a recent conference.
Technavio releases report on key findings of the global semiconductor IP marketThu, 2 Feb 2018
The latest market research report by Technavio on the global semiconductor IP market predicts a CAGR of close to 10% during the period 2018-2022.
Top 10 semiconductor R&D spenders increase outlays 6% in 2017Tue, 2 Feb 2018
Intel far surpasses others with R&D spending of $13.1 billion in 2017 and accounts for 36% of expenditures among Top R&D spenders.
Integrated circuit technology advances continue to amazeWed, 2 Feb 2018
Despite increasing costs of development, IC manufacturers are still making great strides.
Entering 2018 on solid groundThu, 2 Feb 2018
2017 finished on an upturn – both in the USA and globally. Based on consolidated fourth-quarter actual and estimated revenues of 213 large, global electronic manufactures, sales rose in excess of 7 percent in 4Q'17 vs. 4Q'16.
Top semiconductor metrology/inspection equipment vendors continue to increase share of total marketTue, 2 Feb 2018
The top five semiconductor metrology/inspection equipment vendors grew 17.7% in 2017 according to the report "Metrology, Inspection, and Process Control in VLSI Manufacturing", recently published by The Information Network.
Samsung Electronics breaks ground on new EUV line in HwaseongWed, 2 Feb 2018
Construction will be completed in the second half of 2019 and ready for production in 2020 Samsung aims to maintain its leadership in cutting-edge process technology under 7nm.
High-res 3D X-ray microscopy for non-destructive failure analysis of chip-to-chip micro-bump interconnects in stacked die packagesThu, 3 Mar 2018
3D integration and packaging has challenged failure analysis (FA) techniques and workflows due to the high complexity of multichip architectures, the large variety of materials, and small form factors in highly miniaturized devices.
2018: Big changes in mask manufacturing and what it means for mask modelsThu, 3 Mar 2018
There are big changes on the horizon for semiconductor mask manufacturing, including the imminent first production use of multi-beam mask writers, and the preparation of all phases of semiconductor manufacturing for the introduction of extreme ultra-violet (EUV) lithography within the next few years.
Executive viewpoints: 2018 outlookMon, 3 Mar 2018
Each year, Solid State Technology turns to industry leaders to hear viewpoints on the technological and economic outlook for the upcoming year. Read through these expert opinions on what to expect in 2018.
A universally profitable renewable energy business modelThu, 3 Mar 2018
The solar energy sector shined in a global renewable energy market that maintained steady growth last year despite the United States' shocking withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Solar panel costs dropped to an all-time low, driving global demand that surpassed the 100GW mark for the first time on the strength of standout annual 26 percent growth.
New insights could pave the way for self-powered low energy devicesFri, 3 Mar 2018
Researchers have discovered more details about the way certain materials hold a charge even after two surfaces separate, information that could help improve devices that leverage such energy as a power source.
Fab spending poised for remarkable fourth year of growthMon, 3 Mar 2018
The latest update to the SEMI World Fab Forecast report, published on February 28, 2018, reveals fab equipment spending will increase at 5 percent in 2019 for a remarkable fourth consecutive year of growth.
Silicon photonics industry is at the very beginning of a massive deploymentTue, 3 Mar 2018
Silicon photonics is today one of the most valuable answers to high data rate/low cost for distances beyond VCSEL's reach.
Trump blocks Broadcom's takeover of QualcommTue, 3 Mar 2018
Qualcomm Incorporated received a Presidential Order to immediately and permanently abandon the proposed takeover of Qualcomm by Broadcom Limited.
IC Insights raises 2018 IC market forecast from 8% to 15%Thu, 3 Mar 2018
Increased expectations for the DRAM and NAND flash markets spur upward revision.
The ConFab 2018 announces conference agenda and speakersFri, 3 Mar 2018
Browse this slideshow for a look at this year's speakers, keynotes, panel discussions, and special guests.
U.S. trade tensions with China hit fever pitchWed, 3 Mar 2018
Stiff tariffs and the dismantling of longstanding trade agreements – cornerstones of these new actions – will ripple through the semiconductor industry with particularly damaging effect.
Mechanism and improvements of Cu voids under via bottomThu, 3 Mar 2018
This work explores the effect of underlying metallic alloys and the influence of Cu loss under via bottom after dry etching and wet cleaning processes. To Improve the Cu loss under via bottom, effective approaches are proposed. The modified actions for via bottom improve not only wafer yield but also reliability of the device.
U.S. companies maintain largest share of fabless company IC salesFri, 3 Mar 2018
China-based companies show the largest fabless IC marketshare gain since 2010.
EUV lithography adds to increasing hydrogen demand at leading-edge fabsFri, 3 Mar 2018
On-site production an option for supply.
Process Watch: Baseline yield predicts baseline reliabilityMon, 3 Mar 2018
The strong correlation between semiconductor IC yield and reliability has been well studied and documented.
Making the most of color in your multi-patterning layoutsWed, 3 Mar 2018
There are many different situations in which special attention to color choices provide the potential to improve the manufacturing results of multi-patterned masks.
With its highest growth rate in 14 years, the global semiconductor industry topped $429B in 2017Fri, 3 Mar 2018
Samsung edged out Intel, to become the new semiconductor industry leader.
Optoelectronics, sensors/actuators, and discretes hit record-high salesThu, 3 Mar 2018
Total revenues in the three O-S-D market segments climbed 11% in 2017 -- the strongest growth rate since 2010 -- and continue to be driven by high demand for sensors, actuators, CMOS imaging devices, light sensors, laser transmitters, and power discretes.
Fraunhofer ISE and EV group achieve 33.3% efficiency with silicon-based multi-junction solar cellWed, 4 Apr 2018
The Fraunhofer researchers achieved the high conversion efficiency of the silicon-based multi-junction solar cell with extremely thin 0.002 mm semiconductor layers of III-V compound semiconductors, bonding them to a silicon solar cell.
Global semiconductor sales up 21% year-to-year in FebruaryTue, 4 Apr 2018
Americas market grows by nearly 40 percent compared to last year; global sales decrease slightly month-to-month.
SEMI reports record semiconductor photomask sales of $3.7BMon, 4 Apr 2018
The mask market is expected to grow 5 percent and 4 percent in 2018 and 2019, respectively, according to the SEMI report.
Semiconductor leaders' marketshares surge over the past 10 yearsWed, 4 Apr 2018
Top 25 companies held more than three-fourths of worldwide semiconductor market.
Worldwide PC shipments declined 1.4% in first quarter of 2018Thu, 4 Apr 2018
Worldwide PC shipments totaled 61.7 million units in the first quarter of 2018, a 1.4 percent decline from the first quarter of 2017, according to preliminary results by Gartner, Inc.
6 key takeaways from ISS Europe 2018Wed, 4 Apr 2018
With its leading research and development hubs, materials and equipment companies and chipmakers, the EU is in a strategic position in the global electronics value chain to support the growth of emerging applications such as autonomous driving, internet of things, artificial intelligence and deep learning.
Getting better by designWed, 4 Apr 2018
With the IC industry now worth over $400 billion in annual revenue, developing a single new chip can cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Lithography metrology equipment market: High demand for miniaturized electronic devices promotes growthTue, 4 Apr 2018
Technavio market research analysts forecast the global lithography metrology equipment market to grow at a CAGR of around 8% during the period 2018-2022, according to their latest report.
SEMI reports 2017 global semiconductor materials sales of $46.9BTue, 4 Apr 2018
SEMI, the global industry association representing the electronics manufacturing supply chain, today announced that in 2017 the global semiconductor materials market grew 9.6 percent while worldwide semiconductor revenues increased 21.6 percent from the prior year.
Worldwide semiconductor revenue grew 21.6% in 2017 as Samsung takes over No. 1 positionTue, 4 Apr 2018
Booming memory market overshadows high growth in other segments.
TSMC continues to dominate the worldwide foundry marketWed, 4 Apr 2018
Top eight companies held 88% of global foundry market last year.
Global semiconductor sales up 20% year-to-year in Q1Tue, 5 May 2018
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $111.1 billion during the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 20 percent compared to the first quarter of 2017.
TI expands lead among top analog suppliers in 2017Wed, 5 May 2018
Top 10 suppliers held 59% of analog market last year with ON Semi showing strongest growth.
Making automotive smart: Key takeaways from SEMI Taiwan Member ForumThu, 5 May 2018
Emboldened by advances in self-driving and Internet of Vehicles (IoV) technologies, Taiwan's microelectronics sector is investing heavily in manufacturing processes and equipment as engines of innovation and growth for autonomous driving, the world's next market goldmine. But breaking into the self-driving vehicle industry can be an uphill struggle.
RF power semiconductors near $1.5B for 2017 with GaN driving the wayMon, 5 May 2018
Gallium Nitride (GaN) has the promise of gaining market share in 2018 and is forecast to be a significant force over the next few years.
Integration with global ecosystem key to growth of China's semiconductor industryThu, 5 May 2018
The growth of China's semiconductor industry outstripped sector expansion in many other regions in 2017 thanks in part to heavy government investments and supportive state policies.
First quarter 2018 silicon wafer shipments increase quarter-over-quarter to record levelMon, 5 May 2018
Reaching their highest recorded quarterly level ever, worldwide silicon wafer area shipments jumped to 3,084 million square inches during the first quarter 2018, a 3.6 percent increase over fourth quarter 2017 area shipments of 2,977 million square inches and a 7.9 percent rise over first quarter 2017 shipments.
Thirteen Top-15 1Q18 semi suppliers register double-digit gainsWed, 5 May 2018
Samsung extends its number one ranking and sales lead over Intel to 23%.
Global, U.S. electronics supply chains see healthy midyear business conditionsFri, 5 May 2018
The first quarter of this year was very strong globally, with growth across the entire electronics supply chain.
Market growth rate peaks after a strong 2017; IDC forecasts semiconductor revenue growth of 7.7%Mon, 5 May 2018
After strong year-over-year growth of 24% in 2017, worldwide semiconductor revenue is forecast to grow for the third consecutive year in 2018 to $450 billion, up 7.7% over 2017.
Next generation dopant gas delivery system for ion implant applicationsThu, 5 May 2018
A new class of adsorbent materials offer high capacity storage and safe delivery of dopant gases.
EUV lithography: Extending the patterning roadmap to 3nmFri, 5 May 2018
This year's Advanced Lithography TechXPOT at SEMICON West will explore the progress on extreme ultra-violet lithography (EUVL) and its economic viability for high-volume manufacturing (HVM), as well as other lithography solutions that can address the march to 5nm and onward to 3nm.
Semi capex forecast to exceed $100B for the first time in 2018Tue, 5 May 2018
IC Insights raises its full-year spending growth forecast for this year from 8% to 14%.
Memory device packaging: From leadframe to TSVTue, 5 May 2018
Memory devices employ a wide range of packaging technology from wire-bond leadframe and BGA to TSV.
Automotive IC market on pace for third consecutive record growth yearFri, 6 Jun 2018
18.5% forecast increase in 2018 driven by systems monitoring and control, safety, ADAS, convenience, and growth of autonomous driving. Continued rise of memory ASP adds to growth.
Applied Materials breakthrough accelerates chip performance in the big data and AI eraTue, 6 Jun 2018
Applied Materials, Inc. today announced a breakthrough in materials engineering that accelerates chip performance in the big data and AI era.
Led by Texas Instruments, the industrial semiconductor market grew nearly 12% in 2017Wed, 6 Jun 2018
Analog Devices jumped to second in the market share ranking, after its acquisition of Linear Technology.
Sales increase 20% year-to-year in April; double-digit annual growth projected for 2018Wed, 6 Jun 2018
Industry forecast projects sales will increase 12.4 percent in 2018 and 4.4 percent in 2019.
Semiconductor equipment record spending streak to continue through 2019Tue, 6 Jun 2018
The semiconductor industry is nearing a third consecutive year of record equipment spending with projected growth of 14 percent (YOY) in 2018 and 9 percent in 2019, a mark that would extend the streak to a historic fourth consecutive growth year, according to the latest update of the World Fab Forecast report published by SEMI.
Cautious optimismFri, 6 Jun 2018
The World Bank just updated its multiyear forecast for GDP growth both globally and by country.
Could this material enable autonomous vehicles to come to market sooner?Tue, 6 Jun 2018
New material has optical properties that could enable better infrared detection for autonomous vehicles and assist firefighters.
SIA releases statement on Trump Administration tariff announcementWed, 6 Jun 2018
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, design, and research, this week released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration's announcement on tariffs on products imported from China.
The memory market will grow 40% to US$177 billion in 2018Thu, 6 Jun 2018
The semiconductor industry posted record results in 2017, with revenue exceeding US$400 billion.
China's semi capex forecast to be larger than Europe and Japan combined in 2018Wed, 6 Jun 2018
Chinese semi firms to spend $11.0 billion in capex this year, up from only $2.2 billion in 2015.
Materials and subsystem suppliers find solutions to emerging defectivity issues at small geometriesFri, 6 Jun 2018
New metrology and inspection technologies and new analysis approaches made possible by improving compute technology offer solutions to finding the increasingly subtle variations in materials and subsystems that meet specifications but still cause defects on the wafer. More collaboration across the supply chain is helping too. SEMICON West programs on materials and subsystems will address these issues.
Global semiconductor industry reached $115.8B in Q1 2018Mon, 7 Jul 2018
Samsung Electronics continued to lead the semiconductor market, followed by Intel and SK Hynix.
Global semiconductor sales in May increase 21% year-to-yearFri, 7 Jul 2018
Global sales in May were 3 percent higher than the April 2018 total of $37.6 billion.
Merging antenna and electronics boosts energy and spectrum efficiencyThu, 7 Jul 2018
Research could lead to longer talk time and higher data rates in 5G devices.
Heat-conducting crystals could help computer chips keep their coolFri, 7 Jul 2018
Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas and their collaborators have created and characterized tiny crystals of boron arsenide.
The devilish details of EUV lithographyTue, 7 Jul 2018
Industry R&D consortium imec runs a series of technology forums around the world, starting in June in Antwerp, Belgium, and including a stop in July in San Francisco in coordination with SEMICON West.
High gas flow rates create pumping challengeTue, 7 Jul 2018
Increasingly complicated 3D structures such finFETs and 3D NAND require very high aspect ratio etches. This, in turn, calls for higher gas flow rates to improve selectivity and profile control. Higher gas flow rates also mean higher etch rates, which help throughput, and higher rates of removal for etch byproducts.
Developing a resist specific to EUVTue, 7 Jul 2018
Multi-Trigger chemistry, which is designed specifically for EUV, creates a high-chemical gradient at pattern boundaries, significantly reducing blurring and improving line-edge roughness to reduce the RLS trade off.
Discovering the potential serial innovators in our midstThu, 7 Jul 2018
Steve Jobs. Benjamin Franklin. Albert Einstein. Marie Curie. What do these world-changers all have in common? Where did their drive to innovate come from? Melissa Schilling, PhD, had to find out.
Micron and Intel announce update to 3D XPoint joint development programTue, 7 Jul 2018
Micron and Intel today announced an update to their 3D XPoint joint development partnership, which has resulted in the development of an entirely new class of non-volatile memory with dramatically lower latency and exponentially greater endurance than NAND memory.
Semi content in electronic systems forecast to reach 31.4% in 2018Thu, 7 Jul 2018
Semi content to surpass 30% this year, smashing the previous record high set just last year.
SEMI China Equipment & Materials Committee meeting targets region's semiconductor industry growthFri, 7 Jul 2018
Storage and memory chipmaker and SEMI China member Tsinghua Unigroup is gearing up to meet burgeoning product demand with huge investments in its manufacturing plants.
Apple is changing GaAs' futureMon, 7 Jul 2018
3D sensing in mobile phone as well as LiDAR's applications are giving a new breath for GaAs substrates suppliers.
2018 total wafer demand expected to reach 115.1 million 300mm wafer equivalentsWed, 7 Jul 2018
Semiconductor revenues are expected to increase 12.8% in 2018 as a result of continued strong memory prices.
Semiconductor Research Corporation releases $26M in new research fundsThu, 7 Jul 2018
JUMP program funds 24 new research projects to amplify mission of its six innovation centers.
SEMI testifies against U.S. tariffs; Members meet with congressional leaders urging trade actionMon, 7 Jul 2018
Two months after opposing $34 billion in U.S. trade tariffs on behalf of the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing industry, Jonathan Davis, global vice president of industry advocacy at SEMI, this week spoke out against an additional $16 billion duties on Chinese goods.
Leti and CMP announce world's first multi-project wafer service with integrated silicon OxRAMThu, 8 Aug 2018
Leti, a research institute at CEA Tech, and CMP, a service organization that provides prototyping and low-volume production of ICs and MEMS, today announced the integrated-circuit industry's first multi-project-wafer (MPW) process for fabricating emerging non-volatile memory OxRAM devices on a 200mm foundry base-wafer platform.
Mid-year global semiconductor sales up 20.4% compared to 2017Mon, 8 Aug 2018
Q2 sales are highest on record, 6.0 percent more than previous quarter, 20.5 percent higher than Q2 of last year.
Process Watch: Automotive defect sensitivity requirementsTue, 8 Aug 2018
Semiconductors continue to grow in importance in the automotive supply chain, requiring IC manufacturers to adapt their processes to produce chips that meet automotive quality standards.
DRAM sales forecast to top $100B this year with 39% market growthThu, 8 Aug 2018
With 24% IC marketshare, DRAM expected to account for nearly one in four IC sales dollars spent.
Strong 2Q'18 global supply chain growth but second half slowingTue, 8 Aug 2018
Semiconductor capital equipment sales are historically very volatile, with their growth fluctuating MUCH MORE than electronic equipment.
Size of semiconductor acquisitions may have hit limitTue, 8 Aug 2018
Mega-mergers become less likely because of the high-dollar value of major acquisitions, increasing scrutiny from regulators, rising protectionism among more countries, and growing global trade frictions.
Automotive semiconductors to reach $73B by 2023, says Semico ResearchWed, 8 Aug 2018
Automotive electronics are a bright light for the semiconductor industry, as smartphone growth slows, and personal computing growth continues to decline.
WFE semiconductor equipment billings to drop 24% in second half of 2018Thu, 8 Aug 2018
On the heels of a 37.3% growth in wafer front end (WFE) semiconductor equipment growth in 2017, the market will grow only 10% in 2018 to $62.3 billion.
CTA study: China tariffs will cost the U.S. economy up to $2.4B annuallyFri, 8 Aug 2018
The Trump administration's consideration of tariffs on Chinese printed circuit assemblies and connected devices would cost the economy $520.8 million and $2.4 billion annually for the 10 percent and 25 percent tariffs, respectively, according to a new study commissioned by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).
Seven top 15 semi suppliers of the first half of 2018 register ≥20% gainsMon, 8 Aug 2018
Samsung extends its number one ranking and sales lead over Intel to 22%.
Worldwide semiconductor revenue hit record $120.8B in Q2 2018Wed, 8 Aug 2018
Samsung Electronics, Intel and SK Hynix continued to lead the semiconductor market in Q2 2018.
TSMC WannaCry infection forces shutdowns, financial lossesFri, 8 Aug 2018
On August 3, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC), the largest chip fabricator globally introduced a WannaCry Ransomware cryptowormvariant onto its information technology/operational technology (IT/OT) networks.
SEMI testifies against third round of U.S. tariffs citing damage to semiconductor supply chainMon, 8 Aug 2018
In testimony last week before a U.S. government interagency panel considering tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, SEMI called for the removal of nearly 100 tariff lines, all of which cover items critical to the semiconductor manufacturing process, including materials and machines.
Micron announces $3B investment in U.S. for DRAM and NANDWed, 8 Aug 2018
Micron Technology, Inc. today announced plans to invest $3 billion by 2030 to increase memory production at its plant in Manassas, Virginia, creating 1,100 new jobs roughly over the next decade.
Memory ICs to account for 53% of total 2018 semi capexWed, 8 Aug 2018
Flash memory is forecast to represent the largest share of capital spending while DRAM capex grows at the highest rate this year.
Micron Foundation establishes $1M fund for Virginia colleges and universitiesThu, 8 Aug 2018
The Micron Foundation announced that it will commit $1 million to higher education institutions in Virginia as it invests in the next generation of technicians, scientists and engineers with a focus on women and underrepresented minorities in these fields.
China's semiconductor fab capacity to reach 20% worldwide share in 2020Tue, 9 Sep 2018
The China IC Ecosystem Report, a comprehensive report for the IC manufacturing supply chain, reveals that front-end fab capacity in China will grow to account for 16 percent of the world's semiconductor fab capacity this year, a share that will increase to 20 percent by the end of 2020.
Global semiconductor sales increase 17.4% year-to-year in JulyThu, 9 Sep 2018
Global industry posts highest-ever monthly sales; year-to-year growth seen across all major semiconductor product categories and regional markets.
Top 10 semiconductor industry innovationsFri, 9 Sep 2018
Over the past three decades, most of the world's innovations have centered largely on business models and involved iterative advances of existing technologies, with none matching the global impact of the top 10 semiconductor industry discoveries and advances, Dr. Morris Chang, founder of TSMC and the IC foundry model, said at SEMICON Taiwan 2018 this week.
Standard for fan-out panel size ready to ballotWed, 9 Sep 2018
The arrival of Fan-Out Panel Level Packaging (FO-PLP) appears to be at a perfect time: This technology will leverage processes developed for Three Dimensional Stacked Integrated Circuits (3DS-IC) as well as panel processing technologies developed for industries such as solar panels and large-screen TVs.
MCUs sales to reach record-high annual revenues through 2022Thu, 9 Sep 2018
MCU sales and units shipments driven by the spread of embedded control in systems, more sensors, and the rush to connect end-use applications to the Internet of Things (IoT).
New fabs invest over $220B; 2019 to mark all-time spending highMon, 9 Sep 2018
Global fab equipment spending will increase 14 percent this year to US$62.8 billion and is expected to rise 7.5 percent, to US$67.5 billion, in 2019, marking the fourth consecutive year of spending growth and the highest investment year for fab equipment in the history of the industry, according to the latest World Fab Forecast Report published today by SEMI.
How will graphene, the 2D wonder material, change the semiconductor industry?Wed, 9 Sep 2018
What materials innovation will the future bring?
Toshiba Memory and Western Digital celebrate the opening of Fab 6 and Memory R&D Center at Yokkaichi, JapanThu, 9 Sep 2018
Toshiba Memory Corporation and Western Digital Corporation yesterday celebrated the opening of a new semiconductor fabrication facility, Fab 6, and the Memory R&D Center, at Yokkaichi operations in Mie Prefecture, Japan.
SEMI FabView update: More investments in semiconductor fabsFri, 9 Sep 2018
Global fab construction investment shows continuing strength, with 19 new fab projects expected to begin construction in 2019 and 2020, based on the latest data published in SEMI's World Fab Forecast.
U.S.-China trade war heats up with semiconductor industry caught in the middleTue, 9 Sep 2018
Earlier this week, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released a 10 percent tariff on $200 billion in imports from China, including more than 90 tariff lines central to the semiconductor industry.
Applied Energy Systems announces acquisition of Advanced Research Manufacturing (ARM)Mon, 10 Oct 2018
AES will add ARM's gas purification technology to supplement and further expand its gas delivery equipment offerings.
SEMI calls for exclusion process for products in new China tariff listTue, 10 Oct 2018
Last week, SEMI joined a coalition of business groups in calling for Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative, to enact an exclusion process for the most recent tranche of tariffs on $200 billion in goods imported from China.
Overcoming challenges of futuristic transistor technology below 5nm nodeFri, 10 Oct 2018
To scale down a transistor below a 5nm node is one of the vital concerns for VLSI industry as there are various challenges due to the shrinking of components. Several researches are going on worldwide to overcome the challenges of future technology nodes. Among them, this article reviews the potential transistor structures and materials like Carbon Nano-tube FET, Gate-All-Around FET, and Compound Semiconductors as solutions to overcome the problems of scaling the existing silicon FinFET transistor below 5nm node.
The Gigafab Minute and SEMI Standards: A modern miracleTue, 10 Oct 2018
Even for someone who has been in this industry since the days of the TI Datamath 4-function calculator and the TMS1100 4-bit microcontroller (yes, that's been a LONG time – the movie Grease premiered the same year!), it is sometimes hard to grasp the scope and complexity of what happens in today's leading-edge semiconductor gigafabs.
Automating 200mm semiconductor fabs to meet growing demandWed, 10 Oct 2018
SEMI met with Heinz Martin Esser, managing director at Fabmatics GmbH, to discuss how existing 200mm semiconductor fabs can master the challenges of a 24x7 production under highest cost and quality pressure by implementing intralogistics automation solutions.
Advanced technology key to strong foundry revenue per waferMon, 10 Oct 2018
Analysis shows more than a 16x difference between the average revenue generated by 0.5µ 200mm wafers ($370) and ≤20nm 300mm wafers ($6,050).
Wafer shipments forecast to set new highs through 2021Tue, 10 Oct 2018
Total wafer shipments in 2018 year are expected to eclipse the all-time market high set in 2017 and continue to reach record levels through 2021.
Communications rise to represent largest portion of foundry salesWed, 10 Oct 2018
Communications apps expected to account for 3x more than computer in 2018 pure-play foundry sales.
Samsung Electronics starts production of EUV-based 7nm LPP processThu, 10 Oct 2018
Samsung's new 7LPP allows up to 40% increase in area efficiency with 20% higher performance or 50% lower power consumption, resulting in better yields with significantly fewer layers.
U.S. announces trade talks with Japan, the EU, and UK; Action will benefit semiconductor industryMon, 10 Oct 2018
Last week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), on instruction from President Trump, notified Congress that the administration intends to begin bilateral trade negotiations with Japan, the European Union (EU), and the United Kingdom.
The ASOPS system as a multiphysics measurement device for research and industryThu, 10 Oct 2018
Insights into the rise of ASynchronous OPtical Sampling technology as one of the future measurement standard and how it can be used in the industry.
Global semiconductor sales in September up 13.8% year-to-yearMon, 10 Oct 2018
Q3 sales are highest on record, 4.1 percent more than previous quarter, 13.8 percent higher than Q3 of last year.
Optoelectronics, sensors/actuators, discretes climb againThu, 10 Oct 2018
In 2018, a mixed bag of higher prices, shortages, and new imaging applications is driving up total O-S-D sales by 11% and expected to set a ninth consecutive record-high level of combined revenues.
Micron provides statement on U.S. Department of Justice indictments relating to theft of Micron trade secretsFri, 11 Nov 2018
Micron Technology, Inc. today received the announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice that on Nov. 1, 2018, it had issued indictments against United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit (Jinhua) and three former employees of Micron's Taiwan unit for conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, economic espionage and related crimes.
Quarterly year-over-year growth slows substantially for IC marketFri, 11 Nov 2018
Analysis shows decline from 23% year-over-year growth in 1Q18 to 6% forecast for 4Q18.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES introduces Avera Semi, a wholly owned subsidiary to deliver custom ASIC solutionsThu, 11 Nov 2018
GLOBALFOUNDRIES today announced the establishment of Avera Semiconductor LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to providing custom silicon solutions for a broad range of applications.
Third quarter silicon wafer shipments increase, set new quarterly recordWed, 11 Nov 2018
Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased during the third quarter 2018, surpassing record second quarter 2018 area shipments to set another all-time high, according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.
Micron announces mass production of industry's highest-capacity monolithic memory for mobile applicationsWed, 11 Nov 2018
Micron Technology, Inc. today announced that it has begun mass production of the industry's highest-capacity and first monolithic 12Gb low-power double data rate 4x (LPDDR4x) DRAM for mobile devices and applications.
SEMI supports U.S. return to trade talks with China, issues trade negotiation principlesThu, 11 Nov 2018
SEMI today voiced support and encouragement for trade discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and People's Republic of China President Xi Jinping -- talks that are planned for Dec. 1 during the G20 Summit in Argentina.
Nine Top-15 2018 semi suppliers forecast to post double-digit gainsMon, 11 Nov 2018
Samsung expected to extend its number one ranking and sales lead over Intel to 19%.
Layout schema generation: Improving yield ramp during technology developmentWed, 11 Nov 2018
Layout schema generation generates random, realistic, DRC-clean layout patterns of the new design technology for use in test vehicles.
New Applied Materials R&D center to help customers overcome Moore's Law challengesFri, 11 Nov 2018
Applied Materials, Inc. today announced plans for the Materials Engineering Technology Accelerator (META Center), a major expansion of the company's R&D capabilities aimed at creating new ways for Applied and its customers to drive innovation as classic Moore's Law scaling becomes more challenging.
Outlook remains bright for automotive electronic systems growthMon, 11 Nov 2018
Despite some high-profile setbacks with autonomous vehicles, auto electronic systems growth projects well; remains a hotbed for semiconductor growth.
SEMI Global Trade Seminar in China focuses on shifting U.S.-Sino relationsWed, 11 Nov 2018
With China now a prominent player in the industry, it has become critically important for semiconductor companies to effectively engage with China.
SEMI unveils industry's first power and compound fab outlookMon, 11 Nov 2018
SEMI, the global industry association serving the global electronics manufacturing supply chain, today announced the industry's first worldwide fab data for power and compound semiconductors.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES announces industry's first 300mm SiGe foundry technology to meet growing data center and high-speed wireless demandsThu, 11 Nov 2018
Industry's most advanced high-speed SiGe technology now available on 300mm manufacturing line for terabit communications and automotive radar applications.
Samsung's big semi capex spending keeps pressure on competitionThu, 11 Nov 2018
Samsung's two-year capex spending of $46.8 billion nearly matches the combined two-year capex spending of $48.4 set by Intel and TSMC.
Process Watch: Monitoring for excursions in automotive fabsThu, 11 Nov 2018
The Process Watch series explores key concepts about process control -- defect inspection, metrology and data analytics -- for the semiconductor industry. This article is the fourth in a series on process control strategies for automotive semiconductor devices.
SEMI welcomes efforts to reduce U.S.-China trade tensionsTue, 12 Dec 2018
The U.S. plans to delay tariff increases on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, China has vowed to increase U.S. market access, and both parties are planning talks over the course of 90 days to address current frictions.
Global semiconductor sales increase 12.7% year-to-year in OctoberThu, 12 Dec 2018
The global semiconductor industry posted solid year-to-year growth in October and is on pace for its highest-ever annual sales in 2018, but growth has moderated in recent months.
Global Semiconductor Alliance announces 2018 GSA Award recipientsFri, 12 Dec 2018
The Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) is proud to announce the award recipients honored at the 2018 GSA Awards Dinner Celebration that took place last evening in Santa Clara, California.
Emerging NVM : PCM finally takes off in stand-alone applicationsMon, 12 Dec 2018
Ever-growing data generation driven by mobile devices, the cloud, the IoT , and big data, as well as novel AI applications, all part of the megatrends, requires continuous advancements in memory technologies.
Semiconductor equipment sales forecast: $62B in 2018 a new recordWed, 12 Dec 2018
The equipment market is expected to contract 4.0 percent in 2019 but grow 20.7 percent to reach $71.9 billion, an all-time high.
General industry slowing coupled with geopolitical strifeWed, 12 Dec 2018
Now that most companies in our sector analyses have reported their calendar third quarter 2018 financial results, we have final or 3Q'18/2Q'17 growth estimates for the world electronic supply chain.
DRAM growth tops industry ranking in 2018; Outlook dims for 2019Fri, 12 Dec 2018
DRAM fastest growing market in four of past six years, demonstrating very cyclical market.
Total fab equipment spending reverses course, growth outlook revised downwardMon, 12 Dec 2018
Total fab equipment spending in 2019 is projected to drop 8 percent, a sharp reversal from the previously forecast increase of 7 percent as fab investment growth has been revised downward for 2018 to 10 percent from the 14 percent predicted in August.
AI drives next wave of chip innovation and growth: Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEOMon, 1 Jan 2019
We are living in a digital world where semiconductors are taken for granted, AI is bringing semiconductors back into the deserved spotlight, and now we are witnessing the dawn of the Cognitive Era enabled by semiconductors.
China market drives essentially all pure-play foundry growth in 2018Tue, 1 Jan 2019
Cryptocurrency boom in 1H18 helped China's pure-play foundry market surge 41% last year.
Future shines bright for European photonics industryThu, 1 Jan 2019
SEMI met with Dr. Jose Pozo, director of Technology and Innovation at EPIC (European Photonics Industry Consortium), to discuss how 3D packaging applications and heterogeneous integration trends are shaping the European technology landscape.
Flash memory remains primary target for capex spendingFri, 1 Jan 2019
2019 to be third year of greater than $25.0B in spending for flash, topping both DRAM, foundry.
Despite uncertainty, long-term semiconductor market outlook remains brightMon, 1 Jan 2019
This year, SEMI ISS covered it all – from a high-level semiconductor market and global geopolitical overview down to the neuro morphic and quantum level. Here are key takeaways from the Day 1 keynote and Economic Trends and Market Perspectives presentations.
Semiconductor leaders' marketshares surge over the past 10 yearsTue, 1 Jan 2019
Top 10 companies held 60% of worldwide semiconductor market in 2018, up from 45% in 2008.
Gartner reports worldwide PC shipments declined 4.3% in 4Q18 and 1.3% for the yearThu, 1 Jan 2019
Worldwide PC shipments totaled 68.6 million units in the fourth quarter of 2018, a 4.3 percent decline from the fourth quarter of 2017, according to preliminary results by Gartner, Inc.
Value of semiconductor mergers and acquisitions falls considerablyThu, 1 Jan 2019
2018 semiconductor M&A valued at $23.2 billion, down from the record $107.3 billion in 2015.
How to add machine intelligence or AI to EDA toolsFri, 1 Jan 2019
Constant coverage of an invigorating topic like machine intelligence in the media often urges us to consider its use in EDA technology.
A year of transformation and execution: Focus on creating member valueTue, 1 Jan 2019
Last year the industry posted another remarkable double-digit revenue growth year. IC shipments eclipsed one trillion units for the first time and continued to enable an ever-expanding array of silicon intensive-applications.
Semiconductor unit shipments exceeded 1 trillion devices in 2018Thu, 1 Jan 2019
Semiconductor units forecast to increase 7% in 2019 with IC units rising 8%, O-S-D units growing 7%.
Annual silicon shipments hit record high, market exceeds $10B for first time since 2008Wed, 1 Jan 2019
Revenues improve but remain below 2007 peak.
VIS to acquire GLOBALFOUNDRIES' Fab 3E in SingaporeThu, 1 Jan 2019
Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation (VIS) and GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GF) today announced that VIS will acquire GF's Fab 3E in Tampines, Singapore.
Semiconductor R&D spending will step up after slowingFri, 2 Feb 2019
3D die-stacking technologies, manufacturing barriers, and growing complexities in end-use systems among the technical challenges that are expected to lift R&D growth rates through 2023.
China IC production forecast to show a strong 15% 2018-2023 CAGRFri, 2 Feb 2019
However, China's indigenous IC production is still likely to fall far short of government targets.
Four Chinese OEMs were among the top 10 global semiconductor customers in 2018Mon, 2 Feb 2019
Samsung Electronics and Apple remained the top two semiconductor chip buyers in 2018, representing 17.9 percent of the total worldwide market, according to Gartner, Inc.
Taiwan maintains largest share of global IC wafer fab capacityThu, 2 Feb 2019
China shows biggest increase, nearly matching North America with 12.5% share in 2018.
A ride on the business cycleTue, 2 Feb 2019
World electronic industry growth moderated (or contracted) in many sectors in late 2018.
200mm fabs to add 700,000 wafers through 2022, SEMI reportsTue, 2 Feb 2019
Robust demand for more content for mobile, Internet of Things (IoT), automotive and industrial applications will drive production of 700,000 200mm wafers from 2019 to 2022, a 14 percent increase, reports SEMI.
Advances in logic IC process technology move forwardFri, 2 Feb 2019
Despite increasing development costs, IC manufacturers continue to make great strides.
French start-up moves to the edge with battery-operated devicesTue, 2 Feb 2019
The SEMI Europe Industry Strategy Symposium (ISS Europe) returns in Milan, Italy, this year from 31st March to 2nd April, 2019 to explore new opportunities and challenges in the digital economy.
ON Semiconductor names 2018 Distribution Partner Award winnersWed, 2 Feb 2019
ON Semiconductor today announced its top distribution partners for 2018.
97 IC wafer fabs closed or repurposed during past 10 yearsThu, 2 Feb 2019
90% of closures were ≤200mm wafer fabs; greatest number of closures in Japan.