Major IC makers are on 450mm wafers, says ISMI - Solid State Technology
The 'debate is over', says Tom Jefferson, 450mm program manager at ISMI. The key challenge is getting all the stakeholders and suppliers lined up to be ready at the same time. See this video for the interview.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Varian, Novellus top VLSI customer survey
Varian, Novellus top VLSI customer survey
Recently Applied Materials (AMAT) made news by paying an approximately 50% premium to acquire Varian Semicondcutor Equipment Associates (VSEA). Varian is the industry leading ion implantation equipment manufacturer. The initial focus was on the portfolio fit. Buying Varian fills a big hole in AMAT's portfolio as they exited ion implantation approximately 4 years ago. They also picked up Varian's Solar equipment line (Solion).
This is enough reason for AMAT's interest. But, in marketing the one thing that is most difficult to copy is not product or price but, rather relationships. Varian's recent top award for customer service (nine times in a row) demonstrates just how bright the Varian diamond shines.
Recently Applied Materials (AMAT) made news by paying an approximately 50% premium to acquire Varian Semicondcutor Equipment Associates (VSEA). Varian is the industry leading ion implantation equipment manufacturer. The initial focus was on the portfolio fit. Buying Varian fills a big hole in AMAT's portfolio as they exited ion implantation approximately 4 years ago. They also picked up Varian's Solar equipment line (Solion).
This is enough reason for AMAT's interest. But, in marketing the one thing that is most difficult to copy is not product or price but, rather relationships. Varian's recent top award for customer service (nine times in a row) demonstrates just how bright the Varian diamond shines.
Evolution of Supercapacitors | Hardware Design Articles | EEWeb
Evolution of Supercapacitors | Hardware Design Articles | EEWeb
When Technologies Collide:
Have you ever wondered why certain markets seem to burgeon almost overnight. Tablets were virtually non-existent a couple years ago. The iPhone has only been around a few years and it has re-shaped the cell phone industry. The iPod redefined music delivery in a few short years. Hybrid and electric cars have gone from fringe markets to rapidly growing. And then, there is solar power....
Solar cells have been around for decades. Electric powered vehicles have been around for a long time in special vehicles like golf carts. GM introduced and then squashed (literally) an electric car long before the Prius. Oh, and tablets...the Apple Newton was around last century and was one of Apple's few product flops. But, today the iPad is a sensation.
It is not that people wouldn't have wanted these products earlier but, they were not practical to make. Sometimes technology has to catch up to aspiration. More specifically it is the intersection of several technologies. Broadband, USB, touch screen technology, battery life, flat screen technology, lighter construction materials, nano-technology providing stronger and lighter materials, new lighting technologies - both for illumination e.g. LEDs and CFL and luminance e.g. back lighting for displays, high density data storage technology, and of course content...lot's of content. It is the intersection of the breakthroughs in many of these categories (to name only a few) that have enabled products that provide value performance and meet mass market price points.
In alternative energy, such as solar powered grids or hybrid / electric cars, one of the key hurdles has been not just the generation of the power but the storage and recapture of the power. When the sun goes down electricity is still in demand. This means that solar farms cannot provide primary sources of energy unless they can store it. When the wind isn't blowing the turbine blades the energy demand is still there. These technologies can provide a valuable supplementary supply of energy on top of traditional carbon based energy sources. But, if the electricity generated can be stored then these technologies can step up to a source of primary power.
One of the enabling technologies for this will be super capacitors, also known as ultra capacitors. Batteries have one big draw back, they take a while to charge. Super capacitors can be charged in seconds. One application will be in transportation. When a car, train, or bus comes to a halt, energy is expended and dissipated in the form of heat. Regenerative technologies can capture this energy and store it relatively quickly in a bank of super capacitors. They can then be used as a source of burst energy when the vehicle goes in motion. Even a crane expends energy when its boom drops. A significant percentage of this energy can be recaptured, stored and used to lift the boom again.
We have not reached the day of the perfect closed loop generator. But, developing means to recapture kinetic energy will be a key to increasing our ability to keep pace with our growing need for energy without increasing our carbon footprint. Maybe some day we will be able to ween our selves off of relying upon fossilized dinosaurs to power our society. Then those forms of power generation will be next to become extinct...possibly.
When Technologies Collide:
Have you ever wondered why certain markets seem to burgeon almost overnight. Tablets were virtually non-existent a couple years ago. The iPhone has only been around a few years and it has re-shaped the cell phone industry. The iPod redefined music delivery in a few short years. Hybrid and electric cars have gone from fringe markets to rapidly growing. And then, there is solar power....
Solar cells have been around for decades. Electric powered vehicles have been around for a long time in special vehicles like golf carts. GM introduced and then squashed (literally) an electric car long before the Prius. Oh, and tablets...the Apple Newton was around last century and was one of Apple's few product flops. But, today the iPad is a sensation.
It is not that people wouldn't have wanted these products earlier but, they were not practical to make. Sometimes technology has to catch up to aspiration. More specifically it is the intersection of several technologies. Broadband, USB, touch screen technology, battery life, flat screen technology, lighter construction materials, nano-technology providing stronger and lighter materials, new lighting technologies - both for illumination e.g. LEDs and CFL and luminance e.g. back lighting for displays, high density data storage technology, and of course content...lot's of content. It is the intersection of the breakthroughs in many of these categories (to name only a few) that have enabled products that provide value performance and meet mass market price points.
In alternative energy, such as solar powered grids or hybrid / electric cars, one of the key hurdles has been not just the generation of the power but the storage and recapture of the power. When the sun goes down electricity is still in demand. This means that solar farms cannot provide primary sources of energy unless they can store it. When the wind isn't blowing the turbine blades the energy demand is still there. These technologies can provide a valuable supplementary supply of energy on top of traditional carbon based energy sources. But, if the electricity generated can be stored then these technologies can step up to a source of primary power.
One of the enabling technologies for this will be super capacitors, also known as ultra capacitors. Batteries have one big draw back, they take a while to charge. Super capacitors can be charged in seconds. One application will be in transportation. When a car, train, or bus comes to a halt, energy is expended and dissipated in the form of heat. Regenerative technologies can capture this energy and store it relatively quickly in a bank of super capacitors. They can then be used as a source of burst energy when the vehicle goes in motion. Even a crane expends energy when its boom drops. A significant percentage of this energy can be recaptured, stored and used to lift the boom again.
We have not reached the day of the perfect closed loop generator. But, developing means to recapture kinetic energy will be a key to increasing our ability to keep pace with our growing need for energy without increasing our carbon footprint. Maybe some day we will be able to ween our selves off of relying upon fossilized dinosaurs to power our society. Then those forms of power generation will be next to become extinct...possibly.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Hemlock Semi may expand Tennessee plant
Hemlock Semi may expand Tennessee plant
Hemlock is adding U.S. jobs while expanding their Solar grade polycrystalline silicon production. Much of the growth in solar has come from Europe. But, the U.S. is trying to spur alternative energy solutions locally. Over 75% of solar cells use crystal silicon wafers. Other solar cells typically use thin film technology. Currently Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) is the leading technology. Long-term there are good arguments for Copper Indium Gallium (di) Selenide (CIGS). The cost is lower, energy efficiency improvements are being made. And, CIGS on a flexible substrate (not glass) offers the possibility for new building materials such as the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ materials. see: http://www.dowsolar.com/
The solar grade polysilicon is the key ingredient for making those wafers. Semiconductor grade polysilicon is of a higher purity. A typical semiconductor wafer e.g. 300mm can easily cost over $80-$100. With tight specifications this can be much higher. A solar wafer may cost less than $4. Hemlock is ensuring that they have adequate capacity for the projected growth of crystal silicon based solar wafers.
Hemlock is adding U.S. jobs while expanding their Solar grade polycrystalline silicon production. Much of the growth in solar has come from Europe. But, the U.S. is trying to spur alternative energy solutions locally. Over 75% of solar cells use crystal silicon wafers. Other solar cells typically use thin film technology. Currently Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) is the leading technology. Long-term there are good arguments for Copper Indium Gallium (di) Selenide (CIGS). The cost is lower, energy efficiency improvements are being made. And, CIGS on a flexible substrate (not glass) offers the possibility for new building materials such as the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ materials. see: http://www.dowsolar.com/
The solar grade polysilicon is the key ingredient for making those wafers. Semiconductor grade polysilicon is of a higher purity. A typical semiconductor wafer e.g. 300mm can easily cost over $80-$100. With tight specifications this can be much higher. A solar wafer may cost less than $4. Hemlock is ensuring that they have adequate capacity for the projected growth of crystal silicon based solar wafers.
Silicon semiconductor wafer shipments edged up from Q1 2010 to Q1 2011 May 11, 2011 From Solid State Technology
The recovery for semiconductors is now entering its second year. Accounting for seasonal fluctuations the best comparison is a pro-forma year-on-year silicon shipment comparison. To account for the differences in wafer sizes the industry uses MSIE (million square inch equivalents). Although 2287 MSIE is a marginal 1% reduction from the previous quarter it is up 3.3% vs. the first quarter of 2010. Note: these figures do not include silicon wafers for the solar market.
The second quarter will likely show an uncharacteristic fall off due to the earthquake in Japan. Approximately 25% of the global wafer supply comes from Japan. But, expect this recovery to bump the second half of 2011. What remains to be seen is what part of that demand is unrecoverable. Also, wafer inventory will partly offset some of the second quarter supply issues.
The earthquake was undoubtedly a human and economic tragedy. One effect we will likely see on the market is a bit of support for average selling prices (ASP). The memory market was expected to see a significant ASP drop in the second half as supply was projected to exceed demand. This seems to be a perpetual cycle in this industry as capacity increases tend to over-shoot the market and cause price erosion for commodity Flash and NAND. But, with a tighter supply ASPs may have a bit more support in the second half. This will bode well for Samsung, Toshiba, Micron and the many Taiwanese memory manufacturers.
Whatever happens in the quarters to come the semiconductor industry remains a great case study in technology meets economics.
The second quarter will likely show an uncharacteristic fall off due to the earthquake in Japan. Approximately 25% of the global wafer supply comes from Japan. But, expect this recovery to bump the second half of 2011. What remains to be seen is what part of that demand is unrecoverable. Also, wafer inventory will partly offset some of the second quarter supply issues.
The earthquake was undoubtedly a human and economic tragedy. One effect we will likely see on the market is a bit of support for average selling prices (ASP). The memory market was expected to see a significant ASP drop in the second half as supply was projected to exceed demand. This seems to be a perpetual cycle in this industry as capacity increases tend to over-shoot the market and cause price erosion for commodity Flash and NAND. But, with a tighter supply ASPs may have a bit more support in the second half. This will bode well for Samsung, Toshiba, Micron and the many Taiwanese memory manufacturers.
Whatever happens in the quarters to come the semiconductor industry remains a great case study in technology meets economics.
Monday, May 16, 2011
TSMC joins Sematech, cites 450-mm wafer R&D
TSMC joins Sematech, cites 450-mm wafer R&D
As the cost of investing in advanced node semiconductor fabs continues to rise asymptotically the country club of companies that will be able to afford it will become more exclusive. This is a very favorable trend for TSMC (largest semi foundry in the solar system). Equipment makers don't want to foot the bill for the full R&D as they may never recover this. Therefore it is no surprise that there are a few companies like Intel, Samsung, and TSMC that are needed to drive the development of 450 mm silicon wafers. Many have speculated when they will be available in production. Mechanical samples are available today in limited quantities. Full production is probably 3-5 years away. There is still a lot of room for growth with migration to 300mm wafers. But, it is safe to say that we are now in the same decade as the often debated launch of 450 mm wafers.
As the cost of investing in advanced node semiconductor fabs continues to rise asymptotically the country club of companies that will be able to afford it will become more exclusive. This is a very favorable trend for TSMC (largest semi foundry in the solar system). Equipment makers don't want to foot the bill for the full R&D as they may never recover this. Therefore it is no surprise that there are a few companies like Intel, Samsung, and TSMC that are needed to drive the development of 450 mm silicon wafers. Many have speculated when they will be available in production. Mechanical samples are available today in limited quantities. Full production is probably 3-5 years away. There is still a lot of room for growth with migration to 300mm wafers. But, it is safe to say that we are now in the same decade as the often debated launch of 450 mm wafers.
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