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

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-07-28
- Length: 46m
- Episode: 28
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-07-28-s4e28-kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors-what-they-are-how-theyre-manufactured
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors/

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-07-28-s4e28-kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors-what-they-are-how-theyre-manufactured#t=4) Introduction and Career Path
- [4:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-07-28-s4e28-kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors-what-they-are-how-theyre-manufactured#t=284) Semiconductor Physics and Device Structure
- [9:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-07-28-s4e28-kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors-what-they-are-how-theyre-manufactured#t=566) Cleanroom Requirements and Photolithography
- [12:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-07-28-s4e28-kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors-what-they-are-how-theyre-manufactured#t=763) Defect Sources and Failure Analysis Techniques
- [18:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-07-28-s4e28-kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors-what-they-are-how-theyre-manufactured#t=1133) Industry Trends: Moore's Law and Chip Integration
- [22:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-07-28-s4e28-kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors-what-they-are-how-theyre-manufactured#t=1321) Design Guidelines and Manufacturing Collaboration
- [26:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-07-28-s4e28-kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors-what-they-are-how-theyre-manufactured#t=1617) Fab Infrastructure and Equipment Scale
- [29:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-07-28-s4e28-kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors-what-they-are-how-theyre-manufactured#t=1749) Engineering Careers and Training Challenges

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Moore's law (other)
- Scanning Electron Microscope (tool)
- Transmission Electron Microscope (tool)
- Team Pipeline (company)

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- [Part Choice Triathlon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-10-30-part-choice-triathlon) (The Amp Hour)
- [Gnomic Gazumping Gobemouche](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-05-07-gnomic-gazumping-gobemouche) (The Amp Hour)
- [322: Learn Assembly Code](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-02-28-322-learn-assembly-code) (Embedded.fm)
- [Histogrammic or Histomagraphical](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-21-histogrammic-or-histomagraphical) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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