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Understanding Computer Chips and ICs

Computer chips are integrated circuits made of silicon that contain millions or billions of tiny transistors. They are manufactured through a complex photolithography process involving designing circuits, creating wafers, applying photoresist, using photo masks, etching, and finishing. Engineers design the circuits which are then created on silicon wafers containing dozens of chips. Photoresist is applied and exposed to light through photo masks to selectively etch away silicon, building up circuit layers through repeated masking and etching until individual chips are cut from the wafer.

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Claire Carpio
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8 views4 pages

Understanding Computer Chips and ICs

Computer chips are integrated circuits made of silicon that contain millions or billions of tiny transistors. They are manufactured through a complex photolithography process involving designing circuits, creating wafers, applying photoresist, using photo masks, etching, and finishing. Engineers design the circuits which are then created on silicon wafers containing dozens of chips. Photoresist is applied and exposed to light through photo masks to selectively etch away silicon, building up circuit layers through repeated masking and etching until individual chips are cut from the wafer.

Uploaded by

Claire Carpio
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING 3

Read and develop an understanding on each section as


discussed in this module. At the end of this module you
will be asked to work on an activity and answer a short
evaluation. Good luck and have a fun learning.
3.3 The computer chip

Computer chips are at the heart of all modern 1. Design


computers. They are found in phones, cars, and Microprocessor circuits are designed by
even washing machines. But what exactly are teams of engineers who use software to
they and how are they made? define how the circuit should behave. The
software then translates this definition into a
Integrated circuits Computer chips are integrated layout of components.
circuits (ICs): silicon wafers with millions, or
sometimes billions, of tiny components etched
into them. They’re much faster and smaller than
circuits constructed from individual components,
and cheaper to produce in large numbers. Chips
are sealed into ceramic cases with metal pins
connecting them to the rest of the computer.
Integrated circuits can be made to carry out
many tasks.

2. Wafers
The circuits are created from sheets of pure
silicon. Dozens of chips are created at the
same time from a single circular wafer.
Transistor count

The building blocks of computer chips are


transistors: tiny devices that are used to amplify
or switch electric current. The higher the number
of transistors, the more powerful a chip is.

Manufacturing chips

Chips are manufactured in semiconductor wafer


fabrication plants, known as fabs. Each fab has a
“clean room” containing air with almost all dust
particles filtered out, as even one dust mote can
ruin a chip. Workers in the clean room wear suits
and masks to protect the chips from the hair, skin
cells, and any other potential contaminants that
humans shed.

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INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING 3

◁ 5. Etching

The areas of wafer


covered with soluble
photoresist now have a
thin layer of their silicon
removed. This is done
either by washing the
wafer with acid, or
△ 6. Finishing blasting it with plasma –
an electrically charged
The photoresist and etching process are
form of a gas. The
repeated several times, creating a series
process is called
of layers. The wafers are then cut into
individual chips, tested, and put into
photolithography
ceramic cases with metal contacts.

△ 4. Mask
△ 3. Photoresist
The design is turned into a photo mask, a
Each wafer is coated with a substance
bit like a stencil, with some areas removed
called photoresist, which protects the
so that light can shine through them.
wafer from chemicals such as acids.
Masks may be built up in layers, each
Shining ultraviolet light on an area of the
making up part of the overall pattern.
photoresist, however, makes it possible for
the chemicals to dissolve that area,
revealing the wafer beneath. Page | 2
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING 3

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INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING 3

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