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