Anniversary results for NanoCMOS
Grid technology tackles the impact of CMOS variability on design. Professor Asen Asenov of Glasgow University explains the development.

The leading etch
Via profile and integration requirements are critical in TSV etch. Steve Lassig of Lam Research Corporation describes the importance of etch rate for the optimum TSV etch solution.

WSTS Projects 4.7 percent global semiconductor growth in 2008 and 5.8 percent in 2009
Although growth is not expected to be as large as the heady days of semiconductor manufacturing, recent statistics from the WSTS shows growth is expected to remain positive for the industry over the next couple of years.

Wafer carrier evolved
Entegris has a long history within the semiconductor industry beginning as a supplier of wafer carriers. The company has evolved along with the industry and is now a specialist in a range of areas. David Ridsdale from EuroAsia Semiconductor asked Entegris to expand on their evolving state and explain how they are intending to tackle the increasingly difficult challenge of reticle haze.

Nominations announced
The 2008 IC Industry Award are around the corner and after much consideration the nominations for this year’s competition have been announced.

The changing landscape
The 17th annual International Electronics Forum (IEF) conference hosted by Future Horizons was held in the exotic location of Dubai. David Ridsdale attended the annual event and discovered a changing industry landscape.

Advanced Acoustic Automation
Automation has recently become more sophisticated, in part to increase throughput, and in part to enhance performance. Tom Adams of Sonoscan explains.

So much more than tin, clay and cider. Really!
The South West of England continues to thrive in high technology. Innovation as well as a huge potential and a superb infrastructure are great advantages. Anna Lay for FASTtrack introduces start up companies that can maintain the great reputation of the region.

To DFM or not to DFM?
You might think that in designing an integrated circuit, optimising for manufacturing yield is the obvious thing to do. “Not always”, argues Wes Hansford of MOSIS.

BRIGHTER lasers for tomorrow’s technologies
A European collaboration of technical boffins converges on the effort to enhance new generations of lasers for electronics.

DRAM market 1st quarter review
No winner in DRAM “chicken”game

Replisaurus was the recipient of the 2005 EuroAsia Start Up Award. Since then the company has changed from the little Swedish company with a good idea. David Ridsdale discovered how the company is setting itself up as a player of the future with the exclusive announcement of unexpected growth for a start up player.

IBM are closer to new class of memory
IBM announces a new memory technology that is set to revolutionise memory capacity for electronics.

Samsung’s chairman to resign
After 20 years at the helm of Samsung, the most powerful man resigns after indictment for tax evasion and breach of trust.

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SEMICON Singapore once again comes to the Island next month.
Despite its size, Singapore remains a key area for semiconductor manufacturing.

Be stable, be in-position
Sub micron positioning performance often requires nanometre level in-position stability. Linear stage servo amplifier design provides significantly better in-position stability performance than PWM amplifiers. Aerotech discusses environmental requirements for stability.

European competition
The annual Industry Strategy Symposium (ISS) organised by SEMI Europe was held in March on the island of Malta, one of the European Union’s newer but fast growing members. David Ridsdale from EuroAsia Semiconductor went along to see how competitive the gathered minds felt Europe was.

Parallel parametric test methodolgies
Parallel testing offers parametric test floor managers a tool to increase test cell throughput, increase the amount of data provided over traditional sequential testing. Randall Lee, from Keithley Instruments explains.

Adrian Kiermasz, PhD of Metryx explores the challenges for metrology and introduces mass metrology as a method for productivity and yield management.

Materials come of age
S2K Conference shows new approaches for growth in niche sectors of microelectronics. By Mike Smyth, Chairman of S2K Events & Ingrid Prince, Business Manager JEMI UK.

The impending demise of silicon
Participants at the recent Institute of Physics’ (IOP) Condensed Matter and Materials Physics conference held at the University of London discussed the likely end of silicon and the potential replacements, suggesting the start of the demise may be as close as four years away.

Semiconductor sales

A look at Semiconductor sales in February 2008.