Mar 07, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · 3D In-Depth
Thank you, Ann Steffora Mutschler (Semiconductor Engineering) for getting to the bottom of the difference of EDA tools for 2.5D and 3D IC design and test, and providing such a clear explanation in your post, “Evolution vs. Revolution”. In this 2-part post, Mutschler explores the EDA vendor arguments that “tool...Mar 03, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · 3D Event Coverage
When I saw that Dev Gupta, Ph.D, of Advanced Packaging & Systems Technology Laboratories, LLC (APSTL) was presenting at the IMAPS Arizona Chapter luncheon last week, there was no questioning my attendance. Dr. Gupta has been an active participant on 3D InCites, offering regular commentary on posts, so I was...Feb 25, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · 3D In-Depth
Every once in a while, it’s important to remember that through silicon vias (TSVs) might not be the only game in town. While many continue to forge ahead, with commercialization so close we can taste it, others are already moving on to the next thing or looking for alternatives. Will...Feb 20, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · 3D In-Depth
In Jan Vardaman’s recent readiness report card issued at 3D ASIP in December, 3D IC thermal management issues scored and “F” for lack of a solution o the hot-spot problem when stacking memory on logic. And while she gave 3D IC test a “B” for probe card development, it got an...Feb 18, 2014 · By Andrew Walker · 3D Event Coverage
True to form, Samsung followed up it’s V-NAND Flash announcement of 2013 with a product chip-level presentation at the 2014 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco on February 12th. This provides the ideal opportunity to study the result of their work at the product level and compare with the predictions...Feb 14, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · Blogs
Wouldn’t it be great to get a text notification that you are almost out of toilet paper at home rather than when it’s well… almost too late? Or how about an intra-nasal sensor that detects the level of acetone in your breath to tell you if you’re accumulating or burning...Feb 11, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · Blogs
Invent, Innovate, Implement continues to be the mantra at EV Group, supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology and semiconductor markets. In visits I’ve made to EVG’s Schaerding, Austria world headquarters over the years, it’s clear that this Triple I approach is working for the company, which...Feb 04, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · 3D Event Coverage
When is an active die not an active die? When it’s an active interposer, of course! Ever since Nicolas Sillon, former head of CEA Leti’s 3D Integration program, first talked about the research institutes’ work with interposer technology for 3D integration, the term “active interposer” has sparked controversy and begged for definition....Jan 31, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · 3D Event Coverage
Two schools of thought clearly emerged at last week’s European 3D TSV Summit, which took place on January 20 and 21, 2014 at Minatec campus in Grenoble France. One I addressed in yesterday’s post – about realizing system-level benefits – including cost – by integrating 2.5D and 3D IC technologies....Jan 30, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · Blogs
The technologies are ready, the target high volume applications for 3D IC manufacturing have been identified, and now it’s about convincing system architects there’s more to gain from designing in 2.5D and 3D ICs than there is to lose. At last week’s European 3D TSV Summit (January 21-22), two European...Jan 27, 2014 · By Herb Reiter · Book Reviews
For almost 50 years the semiconductor industry has practiced continued shrinking of transistor feature sizes and has been able to pack, with every new process generation, more functionality, at lower cost, onto a single piece of silicon in one IC package. However, physical limits to shrinking and rapidly increasing cost...Jan 27, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · 3D Event Coverage
I just boarded my flight home after attending the 2014 European 3D TSV Summit. Three days, 332 attendees from 21 countries, 24 presentations, 3 keynote speakers, 2 panel discussions, several face-to-face interviews and lots of side conversation all about 3D TSVS being Application Ready leads to a good deal of...Jan 24, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · 3D Event Coverage
The 2013 European 3D TSV Summit (January 20-22, Grenoble, France) kicked off with a pre-conference symposium on 3D TSVs for MEMS applications. My initial thought after attending, was that I’m not sure the MEMS people realize this, but some of us who don’t work in the MEMS market but DO...Jan 24, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · 3D In-Depth
The way I see it, it was only a matter of time before Nordson DAGE brought its X-ray technology into the 2.5D and 3D IC space. The company has long been the leader for X-ray inspection in the electronics market and is now positioned to address the growing need for...Jan 20, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · Blogs
Rarely do I have the opportunity to visit a company two times and find something new to write about, never mind three. But as always, EV Group didn’t disappoint for my visit Friday (January 17, 2014) to see the company’s latest additions, both to the physical plant and to the product...Jan 16, 2014 · By Rajiv Roy · 3D Event Coverage
I thought I would go to Singapore, attend EPTC (Electronic Packaging Technology Conference 2013) and then take off on my personal vacation to India to attend my 40th high school reunion and 35th college reunion – two weeks tops. It escalated quickly. It ended up being 34 day, 20 city,...Jan 16, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · Blogs
After so many years covering 3D technologies, I love finding a new angle to write about. Yesterday’s visit to Fraunhofer EMFT in Munich provided just that. Instead of focusing on 3D IC processes, we talked about 3D systems integration and the e-BRAINS project. And rather than discussing the well-worn topic...Jan 15, 2014 · By Francoise von Trapp · Blogs
What better place for the Queen of 3D to start out her Europe in 3D tour than a late lunch at the Crown Inn, in Colchester, Essex UK? I arrived in London on Monday afternoon, January 12, and was greeted by 3D InCites’ own Nick Richardson, business development manager (and...Jan 14, 2014 · By Paul Werbaneth · Blogs
To the readers of 3D InCites: Happy New Year! I hope your 2014 will be a healthy and prosperous one for you and for your families, and I hope you will continue following 3D InCites (and maybe even be contributing yourselves) as the year progresses. Now that the Internet of...Jan 11, 2014 · By Herb Reiter · 3D In Context
Major SoC vendors, like Intel and IBM, started development work on 3D ICs more than a decade ago, but so far, economics have discouraged them from starting volume production. Ho-Ming Tong, CTO, ASE, and his team realized a few years ago that vertical stacking of logic die and/or heterogeneous functions...