nanochip fab solutions
July 2014
Cover Story: Beyond the Smartphone: The Next Big Thing
David Lammers
The semiconductor industry has been on a roll, pushing well past $300 billion in annual revenues. But with smartphones and tablets showing signs of slowing down, the industry’s perennial question returns: What is the next big thing?
A Letter from Charlie Pappis
Charlie Pappis
These days the semiconductor industry is abuzz with speculation about the “next big thing” to follow smartphones and tablets. Will it be one new groundbreaking technology or waves of innovation across multiple markets?
Technology-Enabled Services for Fast Problem Solving
James Moyne, Parris Hawkins, Jimmy Iskandar and Michael Armacost
Manufacturing automation, specialized expertise and close collaboration combine to improve product, process and equipment performance.
Increasing Endura PVD Capabilities For Thick AI and AIN
Mike Rosa, PhD
Exponential growth in demand for wireless products, combined with their increasing functionality and power management requirements, is driving greater use and ongoing development of physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes in their fabrication.
Case Study: APF Fusion Integrates Dispatch with Simulation
Nanochip Staff
Rapidly test dispatching rules without impacting production.
Factory-wide continuous improvement programs often include efforts to improve dispatching rules for meeting cycle-time commitments
and increase throughput for bottleneck tools.
Building Customer Satisfaction
Rob Rule
Voice of the customer drives Applied’s continuous improvement initiatives. Applied Materials’ success depends on serving customers well—not just once, but over and over, as new generations of devices and production tools evolve.
Thick Epitaxial Silicon Enhances Perfomance of Power and MEMS Devices
Mike Rosa, PhD
Power semiconductors and MEMS-based sensors and actuators are fundamental to the advanced capabilities and effective power management of mobile products and advanced systems.
Bringing Existing Tools to a New Level of Performance
Tony Martinez and Wen-Jen Tsai
Enhancing the capabilities and extending the useful life of existing semiconductor production equipment allows manufacturers to extend process capability, increase flexibility and lower wafer cost.
At Your Service
Nanochip Staff
Seehack Foo, vice president of the Applied Global Services (AGS) Semiconductor Service and Components group, defines ”service” as doing what it takes to enable customers’ success with their Applied Materials equipment.
Changing the Economics of Solar Cell Manufacturing
Brent Ames
Applied Vericell Solar Wafer Inspection System accurately predicts solar cell efficiency to deliver higher yields and lower costs.
The Last Word
David Lammers
Materials, litho, manufacturing and money were top themes at the 2014 ASMC Conference.