Semiconductor Packaging (3D IC) Emerging As Innovation Enabler!

Semiconductor Packaging (3D IC) Emerging As Innovation Enabler!
by Daniel Nenni on 01-29-2012 at 4:00 pm

The ASIC business is getting more and more complicated. The ability to produce innovative die at a competitive price to solve increasingly complex problems just isn’t enough. The technology required to package that die is now front and center.

Here, at the junction of advanced design, process technology and state-of-the art … Read More


The Semiconductor Landscape In A Few Years?

The Semiconductor Landscape In A Few Years?
by Daniel Nenni on 01-25-2012 at 9:48 am

Looking at the huge gap between the revenue of semiconductor design and manufacturing (~$300B) and that of EDA tools, services and silicon IP combined (~6B) inspired me to look more deeply into the overall arena of semiconductors in today’s context and possibly decipher some trends which should emerge in near future. Although… Read More


Learning about 3D IC Design and Test, IEEE Workshop on Friday, December 9th in Newport Beach, CA

Learning about 3D IC Design and Test, IEEE Workshop on Friday, December 9th in Newport Beach, CA
by Daniel Payne on 11-19-2011 at 4:42 pm

The IEEE has an Orange Country Chapter of the Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology Society who are organizing an all-day workshop, 3D Integrated Circuits: Technologies Enabling the Revolution. This looks to be an informative day with real-world examples in both design and test being presented by over a dozen … Read More


2.5D and 3D designs

2.5D and 3D designs
by Paul McLellan on 09-07-2011 at 1:54 pm

Going up! Power and performance issues, along with manufacturing yield issues, limit how much bigger chips can get in two dimensions. That, and the fact that you can’t manufacture two different processes on the same wafer, mean that we are going up into the third dimension.

The simplest way is what is called package-in-package… Read More


3D IC @ #48DAC

3D IC @ #48DAC
by Daniel Nenni on 05-23-2011 at 4:54 pm

A three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC ) is a chip in which two or more layers of active electronic components are integrated both vertically and horizontally into a single circuit. The semiconductor industry is hotly pursuing this emerging technology in many different forms, as a result the full definition is still somewhat… Read More


The World’s Smallest Printed Circuit Boards: interposers

The World’s Smallest Printed Circuit Boards: interposers
by Paul McLellan on 04-27-2011 at 1:38 pm

Have you ever had the experience where you look up some unusual word in the dictionary since you don’t remember seeing it before. And then, in the next few weeks you keep coming across it. Twice in the last week I have been in presentations about the economics of putting die onto silicon interposers and the possibility of a new… Read More


Atrenta Semiconductor Design in 3D!

Atrenta Semiconductor Design in 3D!
by Daniel Nenni on 06-27-2010 at 7:04 pm

My vote for most compelling technology at #47DAC is 3D technology. No, I don’t mean Hollywood-style 3D, I’m talking about vertical stacked-die system on chip design. This design approach basically means putting different parts of the system on different silicon substrates, so you can use the right technology for each part, and… Read More