Curious about what makes the modern world run? Meet the semiconductor.
These little pieces of equipment are vital to making most of the modern world run efficiently. You will be surprised to find out how many items need a semiconductor to function properly.
These pieces of equipment are in so many of our everyday items. Semiconductor manufacturing is a sophisticated and fine-tuned process.
Read on to learn more about this fascinating piece of equipment. We will also explore the manufacturing process. Last, we’ll discuss the impact these semiconductors have on the modern world.
What is a Semiconductor?
The definition of a semiconductor is very broad. In the simplest terms, a semiconductor is a middleman between electricity and a conductor.
Semiconductors are generally used within other pieces of hardware. These pieces of hardware are in turn used in a variety of electronics.
The United States is one of the top leaders in semiconductor manufacturing. Semiconductors are also one of the US’s top manufactured exports, along with aircraft and automobiles.
Products with Semiconductors
Semiconductors are crucial to electronics. They can be found in a wide range of products, from the everyday device to industry-specific tools.
Some of the most common products that you will find semiconductors in include:
- Mobile phones
- Smartphones
- Televisions
- LED lightbulbs
- Automobiles of all types
- Washing Machines
- Vacuums (view models at this link here.)
Some of the not-so-common products with semiconductors include:
- ATMS
- Medical equipment
- Trains
- Internet
- Driver assistance programs in vehicles
You are very likely encountering semiconductors every single day. These handy devices make modern life much easier and more comfortable. Without semiconductors, crucial elements to life, such as medical care, the internet, and transportation would not function efficiently.
Discomfort is one of the biggest catalysts behind change. As the demand for convenience and comfort continuously rises, semiconductors will be a vital part of meeting that demand.
Semiconductor Manufacturing
Semiconductor fabrication is a fascinating process.
A thin piece of silicon crystal, the wafer, gets, essentially, a sketch of wiring and other electrical components onto a thin film. The wafer then receives a coat of photoresist, sealing the components sketch onto the wafer.
The photoresist undergoes development. The “sketch” of the components on the photoresist material forms the actual components.
The process goes through repetition again and again, stacking wafer after wafer atop one another. Since each semiconductor serves a specific purpose, the number of wafers depends on the required end result.
The current largest semiconductor clocks in at a width of 300 millimeters, just under a foot wide!
The Future of Semiconductors
Semiconductor manufacturing will not be going anywhere. As the need and demand for electronics continues to grow with the world population, semiconductors will remain a crucial element to these products.
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