TSMC and the FinFET Era!

TSMC and the FinFET Era!
by Daniel Nenni on 06-09-2021 at 6:00 am

Intel 22nm wafer

While there is a lot of excitement around the semiconductor shortage narrative and the fabs all being full, both 200mm and 300mm, there is one big plot hole and that is the FinFET era.

Intel ushered in the FinFET era only to lose FinFET dominance to the foundries shortly thereafter. In 2009 Intel brought out a 22nm FinFET wafer at the… Read More


Extending Moore’s Law with 3D Heterogeneous Materials Integration

Extending Moore’s Law with 3D Heterogeneous Materials Integration
by Tom Dillinger on 05-18-2021 at 10:00 am

nFET Si pFET Ge

A great deal has been written of late about the demise of Moore’s Law.  The increase in field-effect transistor density with successive process nodes has slowed from the 2X every 2 1/2 years pace of earlier generations.  The economic nature of Moore’s comments 50 years ago has also been scrutinized – the reduction in cost per transistorRead More


New Intel CEO Commits to Remaining an IDM

New Intel CEO Commits to Remaining an IDM
by Robert Maire on 01-25-2021 at 6:00 am

Pat Gelsinger Intel CEO

-Intel good results had a little extra help to be great
-New CEO commits to remaining an IDM versus fabless
-Claims of strong progress on 7NM fuel optimism inside
-Outsourcing to TSMC will not go away but will increase

A good quarter but with some silicon enhancements from ICAP

Intel reported Revenues of $20B and EPS of $1.52, which… Read More


HFSS – A History of Electromagnetic Simulation Innovation

HFSS – A History of Electromagnetic Simulation Innovation
by Daniel Nenni on 01-14-2021 at 10:00 am

ansys HFSS electric field distribution in coax to waveguide adapter

In the 155 years since James Clerk Maxwell introduced the world to Maxwell’s Equations in the “Dynamic Theory of the Electromagnetic Field” there have been some amazing breakthroughs and avenues of insight. As a young electrical engineering student, we are introduced to the set of equations describing electromagnetic waves,… Read More


2020 was a Mess for Intel

2020 was a Mess for Intel
by Robert Maire on 01-13-2021 at 10:00 am

Intel 2020 Mess

Understanding Intel’s future means understanding Intel’s past

Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run. There’s still time to change the road you’re on.

Intel is at a crossroad. The road they have been on since inception, and the road that has differentiated them from the rest of the pack… Read More


Podcast EP2: Moore’s Law, Dead or Alive?

Podcast EP2: Moore’s Law, Dead or Alive?
by Daniel Nenni on 01-08-2021 at 10:00 am

Dan and Mike are joined by Dr. Walden Rhines for a scenic tour of Moore’s Law. The genesis and evolution of Moore’s Law are discussed, along with the fundamental processes that have driven it. How the technology world continues to grow and innovate in spite of a slowing of Moore’s Law is a central theme of the discussion.… Read More


The Coming Evolution in Electronics Design Automation

The Coming Evolution in Electronics Design Automation
by Rahul Razdan on 01-05-2021 at 10:00 am

Electronics MegaTrends

Electronics design mega-trends have been a transformational force for the world. As shown in blue in Figure 1, the first wave of electronics consisted of centralized computing and the leaders in the field included companies such as IBM, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), Wang, and others.  Fundamentally, these technologies… Read More


SemiWiki in 2021!

SemiWiki in 2021!
by Daniel Nenni on 01-01-2021 at 6:00 am

Happy New Year 2021 SemiWiki 5

Today is SemiWiki’s 10th anniversary so an extra special Happy New Year to all! It has been an exciting 10 year adventure for sure and I hope it can continue for another 10 years, absolutely.

2020 brought in a record amount of content, readers and members. Our readership grew 70% YoY in 2020 according to Google Analytics which is a big… Read More


Quantum Internet Explained

Quantum Internet Explained
by Ahmed Banafa on 12-06-2020 at 10:00 am

Quantum Internet Explained

Building a quantum internet is a key ambition for many countries around the world, such a breakthrough will give them competitive advantage in a promising disruptive technology, and opens a new world of innovations and unlimited possibilities.

Recently the US Department of  Energy (DoE) published the first blueprint of its… Read More


5G, Hyperscaling and the Resurgence of Consumer Silicon

5G, Hyperscaling and the Resurgence of Consumer Silicon
by Ramsay Allen on 10-04-2020 at 6:00 am

TSMC 5G OIP 2020

At the recent TSMC OIP Ecosystem Forum and Technology virtual events, TSMC re-affirmed their previous prediction that 5G is going to be a multi-year silicon mega-trend with the biggest drivers being the ramp up of 5G handsets, supporting infrastructure and the continued growth of high performance computing (HPC).

We all want… Read More