World Largest Semiconductor Factory Micron Taiwan: A Process of Chip Making
- Core of Modern Electronics: Microchips are the fundamental components that empowering modern electronic devices, with billions of transistors integrated into each chip.
- Taiwan's Semiconductor Leadership: Micron Memory Taiwan Co., Ltd. stands as a leading semiconductor manufacturer in Taiwan. It is playing a pivotal role in the global market.
Invention of Microchips
Inventors: Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce independently invented microchip technology.
Jack Kilby: Employed at Texas Instruments, he patented miniaturized electronic circuits in 1959. Holds over 60 patents, including the portable calculator, and was awarded the National Medal of Science in 1970.
Robert Noyce: Working at Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, he patented a silicon-based integrated circuit around the same time. Founded Intel and invented the microprocessor in 1968, holding 16 patents.
The Chip Making Process
Microchips are built on a wafer of semiconductor material like silicon.
Photolithography:Layers are built using a process called photolithography, involving chemicals, gases, and light.
Layering Process:Silicon dioxide is deposited, then covered with a photoresist, which is patterned using ultraviolet light. Gas is used to etch into the soft areas, and this process is repeated to build the component circuitry.
Conducting Paths:Paths between components are created by overlaying the chip with a thin layer of metal, usually aluminum.
Finalization:Photolithography and etching processes are used to remove excess metal, leaving only the conducting pathways.
About Factory (Micron Memory Taiwan Co., Ltd.)
- Impressive Scale: Spanning an area of 1 million square meters, equivalent to 140 football fields, Micron Taiwan's facility is a testament to technological advancement.
- Transistor Evolution: Transistors which were thousands of times larger than a human hair, have now shrunk to almost the same size (human hair), and it is showing the remarkable progress in semiconductor technology.
- Productivity and Workforce: Taiwan's workers, who make up 25% of Micron's team, play a big role in producing 65% of the company's computer memory (DRAM - Dynamic Random Access Memory), securing over 10% of the worldwide market share.
Importance of Cleanliness in Factory
- Precision Cleanliness: Maintaining a clean environment is paramount in chip manufacturing, as even a tiny speck of dust can disrupt production.
- Specialized Attire: Workers don specialized "bunny suits" to ensure the cleanliness of the manufacturing environment.
- Sterile Standards: The cleanliness standards in the production area are 100 times higher than those of a hospital operating room.
Automation and Efficiency
- Streamlined Automation: Automation plays a crucial role in minimizing contamination and enhancing efficiency in the manufacturing process.
- Efficient Transportation: Wafers are transported within the factory on overhead rails using automated systems.
- Remote Monitoring: Operations are remotely monitored by a small team using data and sensor inputs.
- Post-Testing Refinement: Surprisingly, 80% of the chip production process occurs after the initial testing.
Environmental Concerns
- Environmental Responsibility: Micron Taiwan is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact through recycling of chemicals and water, as well as the use of renewable energy sources.
- Water Reclamation: Nearly 80% of the water used in the factory is reclaimed, contributing to environmental sustainability.
Looking to the Future
- Continual Evolution: The semiconductor industry is a constantly evolving field, driving innovation and technological advancement.
- Future Outlook: The article concludes by looking at the future of chip making and its potential impact on human civilization.