Early electronic device the vacuum tube

How engineers in 1954 expected a computer to look like in 2004

What is microelectronics? Microelectronics is a general term used to identify miniaturized electronic devices and circuits Other terms used in conjunction with microelectronics devices are solid state devices, semiconductor devices, computer chips, etc. Early microelectronic devices started as diodes and transistors Several transistors and passive components were combined into the first integrated circuits or ICs Many integrated circuit functions were combined into the first computer processors Processors evolved with more capability, faster calculations, integrated drivers and additional functions on a single processor Today’s computer microprocessors can contain several million transistors on an area about the size of one’s thumbnail

Electronic material, usually silicon, is processed in a “clean room” and miniature circuits are created These circuits are the brains of electronic devices today Processing capabilities are advancing rapidly, allowing more and more circuitry in smaller and smaller areas Thus, smaller, cheaper, more capable electronic devices are introduced continually

Micro-photo of an older era IC (integrated circuit) showing a small portion of the circuit magnified many times

Simple wire bonds to an LED (Light Emitting Diode)

Complex wire bonding to multiple chips

All students will be required to work in the clean room The ECE project will be fabricated in the CARC Microelectronics clean room All students will be required to work in the clean room

What is a “clean room” A better name for a “clean room’ would be a “contamination control” room The goal of a clean room is to minimize the contamination that might effect a product and to provide a “clean” manufacturing environment for the fabrication of products Clean rooms were originally exclusive to microelectronics manufacturing Today clean rooms are used in many industries and applications Microelectronics Optoelectronics Pharmaceuticals Certain food packaging CD and DVD manufacturing Satellite assembly Many other industries Intel microprocessors have design rules that space components 150 nm apart (.15 micron spacing) An Intel advanced microprocessor is about the size of a thumb nail and many hundreds are produced simultaneously on 12” (304mm) silicon wafers

In microelectronics size matters The common unit of measurement in a clean room is the micron or micrometer

Simple Clean Room work area

ECE Clean Room in CAMERON uses a membrane diffusion ceiling with HEPA filters and through the wall returns

Gowning required to work in the ECE Clean Room Face mask Hood Gloves- latex. If you are allergic to latex, alternatives are available Coverall Boots

Next homework assignment HW 4 from the web site Write a one page report on “Bluetooth” and “Wi-Fi” technology Be sure to include the frequency of operation of “Bluetooth” and “Wi-Fi” Include the origins of “Bluetooth” Include at least two references Due next class meeting