A Brief History on Silicon Chips

Most silicon chips are smaller than the nail on your little finger, yet they are the hidden 'brains' discovered inside almost every electronic device. These tiny slithers of material are proving to be a bigger influence on modern life than the steam engine during the industrial revolution.

Silicon chips are utilized for a wide range of applications. They guide satellites into orbit close to the Earth. They control signals and monitor train movements around railway networks. They record and control the flow of cash between banks, shops and building societies. They can even wake us up in the morning with a fresh pot of coffee. This revolution in electronic wizardry began in 1948 in the Bell Telephone Laboratories, USA. Here research scientists produced the first semiconductor transistor - a pea-sized component created by adding (implanting) impurities into different sections of a pure silicon crystal.

The new transistors carried out the same function as old-fashioned thermionic valves - they amplified or strengthened electric signals fed into them - but they took up far less space and used much less energy. Semiconductor transistors soon started to replace thermionic valves in all sorts of electronic equipment, from radio sets to computers. At first, transistors had been used as individual elements on printed circuit boards (PCBs). Nevertheless, in 1958, Texas Instruments developed a technique of making separate elements on a single crystal of silicon. Transistors, resistors and many other elements were made by adding impurities into various sections of the crystal. These new electrical circuits were called integrated circuits (ICs), and also the wafer of silicon on which they were formed became known as a silicon chip.

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Sharp increase in prices of memory chips in Japan quake aftermath

ComputerWorld-prices of DRAM and NAND flash memory chips shot up Monday after earthquake and tsunamis in Japan as the markets appear concerned fabrication plant shutdowns, interruptions and shortages of supply chain.

DRAM spot prices surged by as much as 7.56% and the 20 and 48% for NAND flash memory chip, according to DRAMExchange.

Japan accounts for 35,7% of world production of NAND flash and DRAM 13,6%, according to DRAMExchange's parent company, TrendForce.

The locations of major electronics manufacturing plants in Japan compared with the epicenter of the quake 8,9 magnitude of last week. (Image by DRAMExchange)

According to a survey of supply chains by TrendForce chip fabrication facilities, have been affected by "serious" 8,9 magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami. As a result, Japan is facing major obstacles for an economic resurgence, the company said.

For example, semiconductor Shin-Etsu and SUMCO have terminated production in silicon wafer fabrication facilities because of equipment damage and power outages. Shin-Etsu Semiconductor is a supplier to large silicon wafer manufacturers Toshiba and Elpida Memory.

Toshiba NAND flash production has experienced only one minor hit, "according to DRAMExchange, but because of the impact on traffic and supplies of raw materials, Toshiba continues to be the evaluation of effects.

"Due to the proximity of the epicenter, the manufacture Iwate Prefecture will be seriously affected. production plants in Kawaguchiko area is memory with minor damage, "said the DRAMExchange.

TrendForce reported continuing problems at nuclear plants, including the shutdown of the main unit 1, Fukushima, Japan. "The inhabitants near Fukushima 1 power station was eliminated. Have an additional unit, unit # 1 and # 3 of the plant have been delivered with boric acid, so that these two units is now completely obsolete, "it said.

"The supply of Northeastern Japan has become a huge issue," said TrendForce. "As a result, the provision for silicon wafer will be significantly reduced, which will cause the global semiconductor players outside of Japan to compete for material."

On Friday, semiconductor market research firm iSuppli expressed similar concerns that silicon wafer production will suffer after the earthquake and tsunamis.

NAND flash memory makers Samsung and Hynix have ceased to provide price information for the spot. Samsung is the largest supplier of NAND flash chips in the world. Spot prices for NAND flash and DRAM in China have started also increase because the offer is likely to be affected, said TrendForce.

Toshiba, SanDisk manufacturing facilities and two large, Fab 4 and Fab 3, 800 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake and production in these sites is described as "thin". According to an official declaration of SanDisk, paused and production staff was hurt in the quake, said TrendForce.

Lucas mearian covered storage, disaster recovery and business continuity, financial services and healthcare IT infrastructure for Computerworld. Follow Lucas in on Twitter @ lucasmearian or subscribe to Lucas RSS feed. E-mail address is lmearian@computerworld.com.

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