History Of Semiconductor Engineering

This book provides a unique account of the history of integrated circuit, the microelectronics industry and the people involved in the development of transistor and integrated circuit. In this richly illustrated account the author argues that the group of inventors was much larger than originally thought. This is a personal recollection providing the first comprehensive behind-the-scenes account of the history of the integrated circuit.

Development of the thermionic valve. Historical survey of early research in semiconductors. Development of the transistor. Major technical processes used in semiconductor device fabrication. Review of major factors affecting the growth of the United States semiconductor industry. Review of the factors affecting the growth of the Japanese and South Korean semiconductor industries. Review of the European semiconductor industry.

The following topics are dealt with: thermionic valve; transistor development; semiconductor device fabrication; and the semiconductor industry

This book is the first to give an authoritative and comprehensive account of the invention of Integrated Circuits (ICs) from an insider who had participated and contributed from the beginning of their invention and advancement to the Ultra Large Scale ICs (ULSICs) of today. It reads like a mystery novel to engross the reader, but it is not based on fiction; it gives documented facts of the invention of ICs, analyzes the patents, and highlights additional details and clarifications of their history.

The Guide to Semiconductor Engineering is concerned with semiconductor materials, devices and process technologies which in combination constitute an enabling force behind the growth of our technical civilization. This book was conceived and written keeping in mind those who need to learn about semiconductors, who are professionally associated with select aspects of this technical domain and want to see it in a broader context, or for those who are simply interested in state-of-the-art semiconductor engineering. In its coverage of semiconductor properties, materials, devices, manufacturing technology, and characterization methods, this Guide departs from textbook-style, monothematic in-depth discussions of each topic. Instead, it considers the entire broad field of semiconductor technology and identifies synergistic interactions within various areas in one concise volume. It is a holistic approach to the coverage of semiconductor engineering which distinguishes this Guide among other books concerned with semiconductors related issues.

The first years of the company that developed the microchip and created the model for a successful Silicon Valley start-up. In the first three and a half years of its existence, Fairchild Semiconductor developed, produced, and marketed the device that would become the fundamental building block of the digital world: the microchip. Founded in 1957 by eight former employees of the Schockley Semiconductor Laboratory, Fairchild created the model for a successful Silicon Valley start-up: intense activity with a common goal, close collaboration, and a quick path to the market (Fairchild's first device hit the market just ten months after the company's founding). Fairchild Semiconductor was one of the first companies financed by venture capital, and its success inspired the establishment of venture capital firms in the San Francisco Bay area. These firms would finance the explosive growth of Silicon Valley over the next several decades. This history of the early years of Fairchild Semiconductor examines the technological, business, and social dynamics behind its innovative products. The centerpiece of the book is a collection of documents, reproduced in facsimile, including the company's first prospectus; ideas, sketches, and plans for the company's products; and a notebook kept by cofounder Jay Last that records problems, schedules, and tasks discussed at weekly meetings. A historical overview, interpretive essays, and an introduction to semiconductor technology in the period accompany these primary documents.

A basic contribution to the discussion of semiconductor electronics, the major technology of our age.

The first years of the company that developed the microchip and created the model for a successful Silicon Valley start-up. In the first three and a half years of its existence, Fairchild Semiconductor developed, produced, and marketed the device that would become the fundamental building block of the digital world: the microchip. Founded in 1957 by eight former employees of the Schockley Semiconductor Laboratory, Fairchild created the model for a successful Silicon Valley start-up: intense activity with a common goal, close collaboration, and a quick path to the market (Fairchild's first device hit the market just ten months after the company's founding). Fairchild Semiconductor was one of the first companies financed by venture capital, and its success inspired the establishment of venture capital firms in the San Francisco Bay area. These firms would finance the explosive growth of Silicon Valley over the next several decades. This history of the early years of Fairchild Semiconductor examines the technological, business, and social dynamics behind its innovative products. The centerpiece of the book is a collection of documents, reproduced in facsimile, including the company's first prospectus; ideas, sketches, and plans for the company's products; and a notebook kept by cofounder Jay Last that records problems, schedules, and tasks discussed at weekly meetings. A historical overview, interpretive essays, and an introduction to semiconductor technology in the period accompany these primary documents.