Marveling at MEMS: The New Superheroes of The Silicon World

Moore's Lobby · 11 Jul 2023 · 49m · Episode 10

What this episode covers

Fari Assaderaghi, EVP of Technology and Engineering at SiTime, discusses the evolution of MEMS resonators from low-end timing references to high-performance components that outperform quartz crystals. He details SiTime's strategy of co-developing specialized silicon processes with manufacturing partners to achieve 100,000x improvements in stability and phase noise. Assaderaghi also reflects on his career path through IBM and NXP, emphasizing the importance of first-principles thinking and focusing on ultimate goals rather than perceived limitations.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • 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.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 19m

    An Interview with Steve Leibson - Impavid Ideopraxist Insider

    Steve Leibson, marketing director at Cadence and author of the EDA360 Insider and Denali Memory Report, recounts his career from designing early HP computers like the HP 9825 and HP 9845 to working at early EDA firms like Cadnetics and later as a technical editor for EDN Magazine. He discusses the evolution of the semiconductor industry, the challenges of scaling to 20nm and below, the future of memory technologies like magnetic RAM and memristors, and the business dynamics of the EDA market. Leibson also shares anecdotes about the Design Automation Conference (DAC) and his unexpected appearance on a TV show with Leonard Nimoy.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 46m

    An Interview with Shahriar from The Signal Path - Quisquous Quivering Quadripole

    Shariar, ASIC design manager at Bell Labs (part of Alcatel-Lucent), discusses the challenges and physics of millimeter-wave and terahertz ASIC design, explaining how device scaling in CMOS processes enables high-frequency operation. He details the manufacturing landscape, noting that while Intel and GlobalFoundries dominate advanced silicon, companies like Tower Jazz and STMicroelectronics provide specialized processes for government and RF applications. The conversation also covers the high cost of EDA tools like Cadence, the rigorous peer-review process of IEEE publications, and Shariar's philosophy on education through his YouTube channel, The Signal Path.

  • EE Times Current · 51m

    Conversation with IEEE Medal of Honor Recipient Asad Madni

    Asad Madni, the 2022 IEEE Medal of Honor recipient, discusses his pioneering development of the first microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscope and inertial measurement unit. He explains how this quartz-based sensor technology transitioned from aerospace and defense applications to the automotive industry, where it became critical for electronic stability control and rollover prevention in vehicles from manufacturers like General Motors and Continental. Madni also details the company's work on high-resolution optical encoders for the Hubble Space Telescope and offers his perspective on the future of artificial intelligence in scientific discovery.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 04m

    An Interview with Jake Baker

    Chris Gammell, a professor at UNLV and former chip designer at companies like Micron, discusses the evolution of semiconductor design, contrasting the high-risk, high-reward environment of the 1990s with today's risk-averse industry dominated by expensive reticles. He details the technical progression of memory technologies, including DRAM, Flash, and emerging Resistive RAM (ReRAM), while explaining how companies like Intel and Micron are attempting to replace Flash with 3D cross-point architectures. Gammell also shares insights on his educational initiatives, including his use of the MOSIS service for student fabrication and his development of free online courses using tools like Electric VLSI and Cadence to prepare students for industry roles.

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