ASML- Speed Limits in an Overheated Market- Supply Chain Kinks- Long Term Intact

ASML- Speed Limits in an Overheated Market- Supply Chain Kinks- Long Term Intact
by Robert Maire on 10-24-2021 at 6:00 am

ASML Report 2021

ASML great QTR but supply chain will limit acceleration
Products are most complex with most extensive supply chain
Long term position fantastic but investors will be nervous
300M pushouts in DUV with EUV still on track

Good quarter but yellow caution flag is out for supply chain concerns

ASML reported great revenues of Euro5.2B… Read More


Podcast EP42: Semiconductor Materials Innovations

Podcast EP42: Semiconductor Materials Innovations
by Daniel Nenni on 10-08-2021 at 10:00 am

Dan is joined by Alex Yoon, head of strategic and emerging technologies at Intermolecular. Dan and Alex explore the application of Intermolecular’s materials research capabilities, including their prototype fab in the Bay Area.

https://intermolecular.com/

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in these podcasts… Read More


Auto Semiconductor Shortage Worsens

Auto Semiconductor Shortage Worsens
by Bill Jewell on 09-29-2021 at 2:00 pm

Sep 2021 fcst

The shortage of semiconductors for automotive applications is getting  worse. Recent statements from major automakers:

  • General Motors significantly cut production at eight North American plants earlier this month due to the semiconductor shortage. GM expects North American vehicle production in the second half of the year
Read More

Stochastic Origins of EUV Feature Edge Roughness

Stochastic Origins of EUV Feature Edge Roughness
by Fred Chen on 07-11-2021 at 10:00 am

Stochastic Origins of EUV Feature Edge Roughness

Due to the higher energy of EUV (13.3-13.7 nm wavelength) compared to ArF (193 nm wavelength) light, images produced by EUV are more susceptible to photon shot noise.

Figure 1. (Left) 40 nm dense (half-pitch) line image projected onto wafer at 35 mJ/cm2; (Right) 20 nm dense (half-pitch) line image projected onto wafer at 70 mJ/cm2.Read More


Podcast EP28: Funding approaches for semiconductor startups

Podcast EP28: Funding approaches for semiconductor startups
by Daniel Nenni on 07-09-2021 at 10:00 am

Dan is joined by Wally Rhines to discuss funding approaches for semiconductor startups. Wally has led a fundraising effort for a fabless semiconductor startup for the last year.  His experience is useful for others who are trying to raise funding for promising semiconductor startups.

Wally Rhines is widely recognized as an expert

Read More

Podcast EP24: ASIC Design at the Leading Edge

Podcast EP24: ASIC Design at the Leading Edge
by Daniel Nenni on 06-11-2021 at 10:00 am

Dan and Mike are joined by Graham Curren, founder and CEO of ASIC specialist Sondrel. Graham discusses the challenges of designing ASICs at the leading edge from a technology, design team and customer perspective. He explores where the real challenges are in building these types of chips and how Sondrel meets those challenges.… Read More


You know you have a problem when 60 Minutes covers it!

You know you have a problem when 60 Minutes covers it!
by Robert Maire on 05-03-2021 at 2:00 pm

60 Minutes Chip Shortage

-Chip shortage on 60 Minutes- Average Joe now aware of chip issue
-Intel sprinkling fairy dust (money) on New Mexico & Israel
-Give up on buy backs and dividends
-Could Uncle Sam give a handout to Intel?

You normally don’t want to answer the door if 60 Minutes TV crew is outside as it likely doesn’t mean good things.… Read More


Lam Research performing like a Lion – Chip equip on steroids

Lam Research performing like a Lion – Chip equip on steroids
by Robert Maire on 04-29-2021 at 10:00 am

NASDAQ LRCX LAM

– Business is about as good as it gets- $75B WFE in 2021?
– China remains strong at 32% despite SMIC lack of license
– NAND remains 48% of revs versus 31% foundry
– DRAM steady @ 14% – Service was record $1.3B

Strong results in a strong market

Lam reported revenues of $3.85B and EPS of $7.49 for the March… Read More


Certitude: Tool that can help to catch DV Environment Gaps

Certitude: Tool that can help to catch DV Environment Gaps
by eInfochips on 04-13-2021 at 2:00 pm

Certitude 9

Design verification (DV) is still one of the biggest challenges in the ASIC based product world. In last two decades, we have seen many changes in terms of HVLs and methodologies used for design verification. System Verilog is the most popular HVL these days and UVM is the most popular verification methodology.

Even after such an… Read More


Semiconductor Startups – Are they back?

Semiconductor Startups – Are they back?
by Karthee Madasamy on 04-02-2021 at 6:00 am

Semiconductor Startups – Are they back

Semiconductor startups used to rule the roost in Silicon Valley. The very name, Silicon Valley, comes from the birth of the semiconductor industry in the San Francisco bay area 60+ years ago. Large percentage of venture financing used to go to semiconductor startups, even as recently as 15 years ago. As a chip designer doing startups… Read More