Hardware Podcasts

S4E28 Kevin Distelhurst | Semiconductors – What They Are & How They’re Manufactured

Being an Engineer · 28 Jul 2023 · 46m · Episode 28

What this episode covers

Kevin Distelhurst, a failure analysis engineer with a career in semiconductor manufacturing, explains the physics and fabrication of chips, detailing the transition from silicon devices to copper interconnects and the role of photolithography. He discusses the extreme precision required in cleanrooms, the use of scanning and transmission electron microscopes (SEM/TEM) for defect analysis, and the industry's shift towards integrating diverse components like wireless chips onto single packages as Moore's Law slows. Distelhurst also shares insights on the collaborative nature of chip design, the significant slowdowns caused by tool downtime and human error, and the challenges of training new engineers who must develop 'wisdom' through practice.

Most relevant to

large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Team Pipeline
Tools
Scanning Electron Microscope, Transmission Electron Microscope
Also
Moore's law

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 04m

    Cores, Digikey, Electronic Design - The Commercial Competitor Commencement

    Chris Gammell and Dave Jones review the launch of a new DigiKey/DesignNews radio show, offering constructive criticism on its format, audio quality, and marketing approach. They discuss the technical challenges of semiconductor manufacturing at Intel, specifically 14nm lithography and yield management strategies like core disabling. The episode concludes with a discussion on component selection in low-cost electronics, such as using 9V batteries in multimeters, and the economics of mass production.

    PCB design & layoutChips, FPGAs & semiconductors
    6 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 23m

    Part Choice Triathlon

    Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the operational challenges of managing large makerspaces, such as the Case Western Reserve University innovation center, focusing on the need for active staffing and mentorship to prevent resource abuse. They analyze the consolidation of the semiconductor industry, specifically the bidding war for Maxim Integrated by Texas Instruments and Analog Devices, and the implications for component sourcing. The conversation also covers the controversy surrounding Siglent's enforcement of pricing policies on eBay and the technical details of the OSHchip, a DIP-packaged Bluetooth module by Philip Freidin.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringChips, FPGAs & semiconductors
    7 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 11m

    Gnomic Gazumping Gobemouche

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the upcoming episode with Øyvind Janbu of Energy Micro, the challenges of 3D printing with a MakerBot, and the technical details of relays and MEMS devices. They also cover Intel's semiconductor process node advancements, the collapse of Silverbrook Research, and the physics behind LED manufacturing. The conversation highlights the risks of hardware startups, the importance of documentation, and the evolution of component selection from mechanical relays to silicon-based switches.

    Debugging & failure analysisMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    9 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 57m

    322: Learn Assembly Code

    Ramiro Montes de Oca, CEO and founder of aThing.io, explains his company's 'motionless electronics'—modular, penny-sized components that connect via phone-style connectors without soldering. He discusses the technical architecture of these modules, the emerging chiplet industry standard led by the Chiplet Alliance, and the business challenges of scaling hardware manufacturing during global supply chain disruptions. Montes de Oca also shares insights from exhibiting at CES and the importance of design-for-manufacturing for early-stage founders.

    PCB design & layoutChips, FPGAs & semiconductors
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 08m

    Histogrammic or Histomagraphical

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the semiconductor industry, noting Texas Instruments' decision to build new fabs in the US to leverage government funding, and the regulatory blockage of the NVIDIA-Arm acquisition. They explore computer history, referencing Douglas Engelbart's 1968 'Mother of All Demos' and the book 'Dealers of Lightning' about Xerox PARC. The conversation shifts to sourcing components from the Chinese ecosystem, specifically discussing Arrow Semi (Juanjia) and the risks of using their parts versus established brands like Analog Devices. Finally, Jones details troubleshooting a Keithley 2400 Source Measure Unit that was resetting due to a flaky CMOS backup battery, while also discussing the phenomenon of tin whiskers in electronics.

    Chips, FPGAs & semiconductorsSourcing & supply chain
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Being an Engineer. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.