Technology Design Co-Optimization for STT-MRAM

Technology Design Co-Optimization for STT-MRAM
by Tom Dillinger on 01-04-2022 at 6:00 am

sense amplifier

Previous SemiWiki articles have described the evolution of embedded non-volatile memory (eNVM) IP from (charge-based) eFlash technology to alternative (resistive) bitcell devices.  (link, link)

The applications for eNVM are vast, and growing.  For example, microcontrollers (MCUs) integrate non-volatile memory for … Read More


Advanced 2.5D/3D Packaging Roadmap

Advanced 2.5D/3D Packaging Roadmap
by Tom Dillinger on 01-03-2022 at 6:00 am

SoIC futures

Frequent SemiWiki readers are no doubt familiar with the advances in packaging technology introduced over the past decade.  At the recent International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) in San Francisco, TSMC gave an insightful presentation sharing their vision for packaging roadmap goals and challenges, to address the growing… Read More


“Too Big To Fail Two” – Could chip failure take down tech & entire economy?

“Too Big To Fail Two” – Could chip failure take down tech & entire economy?
by Robert Maire on 12-19-2021 at 6:00 am

Semiconductors too big to fail

-Chips enable tech sector which underpins entire economy
-Is the US chip sector “Too Big To Fail”?
-If US chip industry fails, does tech & everything else follow?
-How chip/Taiwan crisis compares to 2008 financial meltdown

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

We find it an incredible juxtaposition… Read More


Intel Discusses Scaling Innovations at IEDM

Intel Discusses Scaling Innovations at IEDM
by Scotten Jones on 12-14-2021 at 6:00 am

Intel at IEDM Slides Page 1

Standard Cell Scaling

Complex logic designs are built up from standard cells, in order to continue to scale logic we need to continually shrink the size of standard cells.

Figure 1 illustrates the dimensions of a standard cell.

 Figure 1. Standard Cell Dimensions.

 From figure 1 we can see that shrinking standard cell sizes requires… Read More


Podcast EP48: Wally Rhines on the Morris Chang Award and $50M for Cornami

Podcast EP48: Wally Rhines on the Morris Chang Award and $50M for Cornami
by Daniel Nenni on 11-12-2021 at 10:00 am

Dan is joined by Dr. Wally Rhines. Dan discusses the recent announcement that Wally is the newest recipient of the Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award. The meaning of the award and some history of Morris Chang and TSMC are discussed. The recent funding round for Cornami, led by SoftBank, is also discussed. What is Cornami… Read More


On-Chip Sensors Discussed at TSMC OIP

On-Chip Sensors Discussed at TSMC OIP
by Tom Simon on 11-02-2021 at 10:00 am

phase noise correlation

TSMC recently held their Open Innovation Platform (OIP) Ecosystem Forum event where many of their key partners presented on their latest projects and developments. This year one of their top IP provider partners, Analog Bits, gave two presentations. Analog building blocks have always been necessary as enabling technology … Read More


Intel – “Super” Moore’s Law Time warp-“TSMC inside” GPU & Global Flounders IPO

Intel – “Super” Moore’s Law Time warp-“TSMC inside” GPU & Global Flounders IPO
by Robert Maire on 10-31-2021 at 6:00 am

GF TSMC Intel

“Super” Moore’s Law- 5 nodes in 4 years- Too good to be true?
Gelsinger said “Intel will be advantaged with High NA EUV”
Ponte Vecchio better with “TSMC Inside”
Global Flounders IPO as price drops on public debut

Lets do the time warp again….(apologies to Riff Raff)

Its just … Read More


Semiconductor CapEx too strong?

Semiconductor CapEx too strong?
by Bill Jewell on 10-28-2021 at 1:00 pm

Oct 2021 capex2

Semiconductor capital expenditures (CapEx) are on track for strong growth in 2021. For many companies the increase should continue into 2022. TSMC, the dominant foundry company, expects to spend $30 billion in CapEx in 2021, a 74% increase from 2020. TSMC announced in March it plans to invest $100 billion over the next three years,… Read More


Its all about the Transistors- 57 Billion reasons why Apple/TSMC are crushing it

Its all about the Transistors- 57 Billion reasons why Apple/TSMC are crushing it
by Robert Maire on 10-20-2021 at 8:00 am

Apple M1

The Apple event today was essentially a reveal of the latest and greatest silicon coming out of the Apple/TSMC partnership and how far ahead of everything else it is. The Mac was simply an aluminum container for the new silicon.

More importantly the event and specs of the TWO new chips, the M1 Pro and the M1 Max demonstrate that the M1… Read More


IEDM 2021 – Back to in Person

IEDM 2021 – Back to in Person
by Scotten Jones on 10-18-2021 at 6:00 am

IEDM 2021 SemiWIki

Anyone who has read my previous articles about IEDM knows I consider it the premier conference on process technology.

Last year due to COVID IEDM was virtual and although virtual offers some advantages the hallway conversations that can be such an important part of the conference are lost. This year IEDM is returning as a live event… Read More