Bits on Chips

This book provides readers with a broad overview of integrated circuits, also generally referred to as micro-electronics. The presentation is designed to be accessible to a broad audience, including readers with limited, technical knowledge. Its coverage includes key aspects of integrated circuit design, implementation, fabrication, and applications,reaching even beyond the 2nm process node. The author complements his discussions with a large number of diagrams and photographs, in order to reinforce the explanations. The book is divided into two parts, the first of which is specifically developed for people with almost no or little technical knowledge. It presents an overview of the electronic evolution and discusses the similarity between a chip floor plan and a city plan, using metaphors to help explain concepts. It includes a summary of the chip development cycle, some basic definitions and a variety of applications that use integrated circuits. The second part digs deeper into the details and is perfectly suited for professionals working in one of the semiconductor disciplines who want to broaden their semiconductor horizon. As we see increasing co-integration of ICs, sensors, and actuators, this part includes a section called More than Moore. It discusses micro- and nanosystems, such as micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems, microchemical systems, and microbiological systems, as well as sensors and actuators. The book includes a comprehensive index with numerous semiconductor-related abbreviations and keywords, enabling readers to quickly locate the relevant material within the text.