Interesting Times Redux
Peter Singer, Editor-in-Chief -- Semiconductor International, 2/1/2006
In this space last month, I suggested that we are all lucky, for we are living in "interesting times" in the semiconductor industry — it is certainly an exciting time of changing economics paired with daunting technical challenges. I subsequently received, just yesterday as I write this, a wonderful e-mail from David Moore of Texas Instruments, who notes that "May you live in interesting times" is actually an ancient curse based on the idea that interesting times will distract the object of the curse from pursuing spiritual enlightenment, which many see as the only important activity for humans.
I would rather feel lucky than cursed, of course, but I think the good news is that, unlike the search for spiritual enlightenment, the path to enlightenment for the semiconductor industry — technical enlightenment, anyway — is well illuminated thanks to the efforts of those at the International Roadmap Committee and all of those who work on the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) .
The ITRS, which underwent a major revision last year, identifies the technical challenges and needs facing the semiconductor industry over the next 15 years. As noted on the ITRS website, the ITRS "roadmapping" process encourages discussion and debate throughout the community about the requirements for success. The key factor in the success of the roadmap is obtaining consensus on industry drivers, requirements and technology timelines.
Under the umbrella of the International Roadmap Committee are Technology Working Groups (TWGs), which are organizations that assess the state of technology and identify areas that may provide solutions. The TWG members also indicate opportunities for new research and innovation. These groups are made up of volunteer technology experts from chip manufacturers, supplier companies, universities and academia, technology labs, and semiconductor technology consortia.
The newly revised ITRS is important because it marks a major departure from the previous versions of roadmaps in that it removes the concept of "technology node" as the main pace setter for the IC industry. In the past, DRAM products set the technology pace, but today microprocessor and flash technologies have been approaching (and in some cases producing) features even smaller than DRAM. Additionally, microprocessor and flash memory products have been introduced at a comparable or, at times, even faster pace than DRAMs. As a result, the use of a single number (such as a technology node) derived from the half-pitch of DRAM no longer suffices to characterize the whole semiconductor industry. The 2005 ITRS addresses an independent measure of the technology pace of DRAM, microprocessor and flash products.
Another change in the 2005 ITRS indicates the growing interest in new nanoscale devices representing alternatives to CMOS. Emerging Research Devices topics are now addressed in a separate chapter from the Process Integration, Devices, and Structures chapter. The ITRS also includes chapters on system drivers, design, RF and analog/mixed-signal, front-end processes, lithography, interconnect, factory integration, assembly and packaging, ESH, yield enhancement, metrology, modeling and simulation, and test.
An interesting part of the ITRS is the "Difficult Challenges" section, which is intended to help readers grasp an overall picture concerning major technological issues. "Grand Challenges" are classified into two categories: Enhancing Performance and Cost-Effective Manufacturing. They are described according to the "near-term" (2005-2013) and the "long-term" (2014-2020) timeframes of the ITRS.
Want to learn more? Check out our website for an archived webcast where Robert Doering, co-chair of the International Roadmap Committee (and senior fellow in silicon technology development at Texas Instruments), provides an overview of the latest ITRS, followed by a roundtable discussion.
We'll be presenting an even more in-depth look at the new ITRS April 18-20 as part of our 2006 Electronics Manufacturing Summit (EMS), an online virtual conference that will include presentations from TWG chairs and co-chairs on each chapter of the ITRS, as well as roundtable discussions, resource centers, poster sessions and more. You can register now for the event and get more information — and yes, we'll send reminders as we get closer. See you online: An interesting time is guaranteed!
