Types of Integrated Circuit Making Machines
The types of integrated circuit making machines can be classified according to their functions, processing methods, combinations, etc.
- Photolithography Machines: Photolithography machines are key devices in semiconductor manufacturing processes. They utilize light to project and transfer circuit patterns onto silicon wafers coated with photoresist. This is the vital step for chip fabrication. With the development of technology, photolithography machines have changed from optical lithography to EUV lithography.
- Etching Machines: Etching machines remove the photoresist on the wafer surface to create the desired circuit patterns. They may use dry etching or wet etching techniques. Dry etching machines employ plasma or glow discharge to selectively remove material from the wafer. Meanwhile, by immersing the wafer in particular chemical solutions, wet etching machines carry out the material removal process.
- Deposition Machines: Deposition machines are responsible for depositing various materials such as metals, dielectrics, and semiconductors onto the surface of the wafer. These machines create the layers required for the integrated circuit. Different integrated circuit formations have different needs for deposition methods. The Cosmic Vaporization Technique (CVD), Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), and Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) are just a few chemical processes for material deposition.
- Ionic Implantation Machines: Ionic implantation machines alter the electronic characteristics of the silicon wafer by introducing impurity ions. They are essential for forming the transistor regions and dopant profiles of the integrated circuit.
In addition to the above machines, integrated circuit production also requires other supporting devices, such as sputtering machines, cleaning machines, oxidation machines, etc. These machine types work together, forming a complete integrated circuit manufacturing process.
Specification and Maintenance
Specification
- Die Size: The die sizes can be adjusted from 0.25mm to 7.625mm.
- Process: The integrated circuit manufacturing machines can integrate circuits by various methods. They may use oxidation, ion implantation, photolithography, etching, oxidation, doping, metallization, chemical vapor deposition, and dielectric deposition steps.
- Slices: The machines can handle different slice sizes. Usually, the sizes are 50mm, 75mm, 150mm, 200mm, 300mm, or custom 200mm slices. The precise dimensions depend on the integrated circuit's design and requirements.
- Capacity: These machines can process 1,500 to 5,000 slices each month. The exact capacity will rely on integrated circuit designs and specifications, the technology and processes used by the machine, and the machine's speed.
- Power: The integrated circuit-making machines can operate under a voltage between 2.5 volts and 5.6 volts. There is a range of circuit complexities that these machines can handle, including both simple to advanced designs. They are suitable for production volumes from small batches to large-scale manufacturing.
- Dust: The machines work in a clean room environment to minimize dust contamination. They usually have a maximum of 10,000 particles per ft3 of cleanroom air. 10,000 particles is equal to class 100.
- Humidity: The relative humidity inside the machines is lower than 20%.
Maintenance
- Clean: Regularly clean the external parts of the circuit-making machine to remove any dust, dirt, or debris. Use a lint-free cloth and a cleaning solution to avoid damaging the equipment.
- Check and replace wear parts: Check the machine's wear parts, including conveyor belts, gaskets, seals, etc. Replace any damaged or worn parts to ensure the proper operation and precision of integration.
- Check lubricant: Ensure that the machine components are adequately lubricated. Inspect and refill or replace the lubricant as needed to avoid premature wear and tear on the equipment.
- Calibration: Regularly calibrate the integrated circuit-making machine using calibration standards to maintain its precision and accuracy. Ensure that the machine's parameters are set correctly to meet various processing needs and specifications.
- Cleaning of filters: For integrated circuits fabrication machines with air purification or ventilation systems, it's essential to clean or replace the filters periodically to ensure proper air quality and avoid contamination.
- Contamination control: Ensure that the equipment is free from any particulate matter, chemical contaminants, or biological pollutants to prevent contamination during the integrated circuit-making process.
- Pay attention to the operation manual: Follow maintenance guidelines and recommendations in the equipment's operation manual. Adhere to the prescribed maintenance schedule and procedures to ensure the long-term, stable operation of the integrated circuit-making machine.
Scenarios of integrated circuit making machines
IC making machines are vital in many industries. Innovations in IC designing and fabrication have allowed smaller, faster, and more powerful chips to integrate.
- Electronics Industry: The electronics industry relies heavily on integrated circuit production gear. These machines are used to create chips used in various electronic components like transistors, capacitors, and diodes.
- Telecommunications: Telecommunications devices and systems; for example, mobile phones, tablets, routers, and switches need highly efficient integrated circuits with specific processing and communication capabilities. Integrated circuit production equipment helps ensure that these devices operate at peak performance and can handle high levels of data transmission.
- Automotive Industry: Integrated circuits are used in the automotive industry to help manufacture smart key fobs, entry and ignition systems, tire pressure monitoring systems, advanced driver-assistance systems, and other electronic components. ICs ensure the electronic parts in modern vehicles function well and reliably.
- Medical Devices: Medical hardware components, including sensors and processors, often have to rely on integrated circuits to work. Integrated circuit-making machines guarantee that medical gadgets are trustworthy and precise.
- Aerospace and Defense: Integrated circuits are vital to aerospace and defense systems because they help ensure reliability. Aerospace and defense systems using integrated circuits need to work consistently. Integrated circuits help with that by supporting aerospace systems like satellite technology and avionics. They also protect defense systems from being tampered with, making them essential in military applications.
- Computing Industry: Integrated circuit production machines are still significant in the computing sector. These are used to manufacture microprocessors, GPUs, FPGAs, and other critical computing chips. As computing gets more complex, integrated circuits that are faster, more potent, and more versatile are required.
How to choose integrated circuit making machines
When purchasing an IC chip-making machine, buyers need to consider models with multiple uses. This means one device can do many jobs on an IC chip, like etching, coating, etching, mask alignment, exposure, etc. Such a machine eliminates the need for extra devices, saving costs and space.
Choose an integrated circuit-making machine that matches the scale of production. For large production numbers, a mass production machine is ideal. One with automated loading and offloading can help speed up the work. For small to medium production, a batch production device is better and more cost-effective.
Consider the specific type of IC chip design the device is built to manufacture. Some machines can only create memory chips, while others are suitable for microprocessors, analog circuits, or mixed-signal circuits. Pick a device that matches the customer's needs so there are no extra costs to change the designs.
Another key factor when buying an integrated circuit machine is the learning curve. The machine's software should have a user-friendly interface so that operators can start work soon after installation. Also, the manufacturing devices should have modular parts for easy maintenance. The parts can be just as easily replaced if they need to be repaired or upgraded.
Finally, the costs of running the machine are key to deciding. Think about the expenses of energy, raw material use, and automated processes. Energy-efficient machines help lower electricity costs. Devices with high yield rates reduce the use of raw materials, and automation cuts labor needs.
Integrated circuit making machine Q&A
Q1. What are the recent opportunities for the integrated circuit fabrication machines market?
A recent opportunity for the market is to improve emerging economies' economic situation. Since there are many developing countries, the integrated circuit-making machines' demand will be high because they will need not only large-scale production but also cost-effective ones.
Q2. What are the barriers to entry for the integrated circuit fabrication machines market?
The main barrier to entering the market for new suppliers is the need for large capital investments. Integrated circuit-making machines are very expensive because they use very complex technology. It will take a long time to get a return on investment that is high enough for the amounts of money put into them.
Q3. What is an integrated circuit in simple words?
An integrated circuit is a tiny electronic chip that can carry out many tasks of large pieces of equipment.
Q4. What is the working process of the integrated circuit machine?
Firstly, a blueprint of the circuit is made. Then, a silicon wafer is prepared and coated with layer light-sensitive polymer. The circuit's blueprint is then projected onto the wafer using photolithography. After etching, the wafer is then doped to alter its conductivity. Finally, the layers are interconnected by adding metal layers, usually using the technique of electroforming.
