dept. of electrical engineering university of kentucky computer chips: a world of microelectronics...

Dept. of Electrical Engineering University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky

Computer Chips: A World of Computer Chips: A World of MicroelectronicsMicroelectronics

Zhi Chen, Zhi Chen, Ph.D.Ph.D.

Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering

University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky

Lexington, KY 40506Lexington, KY 40506


OutlineOutline

• History of ComputersHistory of Computers

• The Structure of a ComputerThe Structure of a Computer

• Microchips: Integrated CircuitsMicrochips: Integrated Circuits

• How to Make a ChipHow to Make a Chip

• Future of MicrochipsFuture of Microchips


History of Computers

• 1937 J. V. Atanasoff, a professor at Iowa State University, built an electronic computer (not (not programmable)programmable)

• 1943 Alan Turing built an electronic machine for 1943 Alan Turing built an electronic machine for

the British military.the British military.

• 1945 J. Presper Eckert and John V. Mauchly at the 1945 J. Presper Eckert and John V. Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania built the first general University of Pennsylvania built the first general purpose programmable electronic computer, purpose programmable electronic computer,

ENIAC ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer).Computer).


The first programmable electronic computer, ENIACThe first programmable electronic computer, ENIAC

It consists ofIt consists of 18,00018,000 vacuum tubes, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 vacuum tubes, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, and 6,000 switches. It was 100 feet long, 10 feet capacitors, and 6,000 switches. It was 100 feet long, 10 feet high, and 3 feet deep. It consumed 140 kilowatts of power.high, and 3 feet deep. It consumed 140 kilowatts of power.


The first programmable electronic computer, ENIACThe first programmable electronic computer, ENIAC


Problems with Vacuum TubesProblems with Vacuum Tubes

• What a vacuum tube looks like? ---- A light BulbWhat a vacuum tube looks like? ---- A light Bulb• It consists of a filament and several electrodes It consists of a filament and several electrodes

enclosed in a glass bulb.enclosed in a glass bulb.

• Large sizeLarge size• Large Power ConsumptionLarge Power Consumption• Unreliable: filaments always burn outUnreliable: filaments always burn out


A New Invention in 1947: TransistorA New Invention in 1947: TransistorA Solid State DeviceA Solid State Device

TransistorTransistorVacuum tubeVacuum tube

Compare the transistor with the vacuum tube: Compare the transistor with the vacuum tube: 100 times smaller, much less power consumption100 times smaller, much less power consumption

TransistorsTransistors--Solid State--Solid State

Vacuum tubesVacuum tubes--- Light bulbs--- Light bulbs


An Invention in 1958: Integrated CircuitsAn Invention in 1958: Integrated Circuits

Jack Kilby, inventorJack Kilby, inventor

The first integrated Circuit: Put every componentsThe first integrated Circuit: Put every componentsand wires on a Silicon chip --- A new concept.and wires on a Silicon chip --- A new concept.


Invention of IC: Beginning of MicroelectronicsInvention of IC: Beginning of Microelectronics

Electronic circuits are printed on Si wafer by photolithography and Electronic circuits are printed on Si wafer by photolithography and patterning. Most importantly, they can be patterning. Most importantly, they can be miniaturized miniaturized continuously.continuously.


Computer architectureComputer architecture

CPU: CPU: Central Process UnitsCentral Process UnitsI/O: I/O: Input / OutputInput / Output

CPUCPU MemoryMemory I/OI/O

System BusSystem Bus

All the above can be fabricated on a single chip.All the above can be fabricated on a single chip.


Miniaturization: Leading to Revolution of Miniaturization: Leading to Revolution of ComputersComputers

YearYear MicroprocessorMicroprocessor Size ( Size (m) m) TransistorsTransistors Clock speedClock speed

19741974 8080 8080 6 6 6,000 6,000 2 MHz 2 MHz

19791979 8088 8088 3 3 29,000 29,000 5 MHz 5 MHz

19851985 80386 80386 1.5 1.5 275,000 275,000 16MHz 16MHz

19891989 80486 80486 1 1 1,200,000 1,200,000 25MHz 25MHz

19931993 Pentium Pentium 0.8 0.8 3,100,000 3,100,000 60MHz 60MHz

19971997 Pentium II Pentium II 0.35 0.35 7,500,000 7,500,000 233MHz 233MHz

20002000 Pentium III Pentium III 0.18 0.18 15,000,000 15,000,000 1.0 GHz 1.0 GHz

20032003 Pentium IV Pentium IV 0.09 0.09 30,000,000 30,000,000 2.0 GHz 2.0 GHz


Microelectronics: How to Make Chips?Microelectronics: How to Make Chips?

Electronic circuits are printed on Si wafer by photolithographyElectronic circuits are printed on Si wafer by photolithography

UV LightUV Light

MaskMask

Silicon WaferSilicon Wafer

OxideOxide

PRPR

Photochemical ReactionPhotochemical Reaction

PR: Photo ResistPR: Photo Resist


Microelectronics: How to Make ChipsMicroelectronics: How to Make Chips

Electronic circuits are printed on Si wafer by photolithographyElectronic circuits are printed on Si wafer by photolithography

OxideOxide

Dissolve in the solutionDissolve in the solution


PRPR

Soluble in a special solutionSoluble in a special solution

OxideOxide

PRPR

OxideOxide

PRPR

Oxide etch in a chemical solutionOxide etch in a chemical solution



Patterns on the Mask have been transformed to the silicon waferPatterns on the Mask have been transformed to the silicon wafer

Dissolve in the solutionDissolve in the solution


OxideOxide

PRPR

OxideOxide

Pattern being formedPattern being formed



Very sophisticated patterns of 0.25 Very sophisticated patterns of 0.25 m can be made!m can be made!


Microelectronics: What a transistor looks like?Microelectronics: What a transistor looks like?

A transistor with a size of 0.25 A transistor with a size of 0.25 m can m can onlyonly be be seen using an electronic microscope!seen using an electronic microscope!


Microelectronics: What is a transistor?Microelectronics: What is a transistor?

A Transistor in digital circuits is just like a switchA Transistor in digital circuits is just like a switch

OFF OFF

ONON

Represents 0 in LogicRepresents 0 in Logic

Represents 1 in LogicRepresents 1 in Logic

Millions of switches in a Computer is just Millions of switches in a Computer is just busy with on and off!busy with on and off!


Microelectronics: What a wafer looks like?Microelectronics: What a wafer looks like?

There are about 50-60 chips which are identical in one waferThere are about 50-60 chips which are identical in one wafermade by IBM in 1999.made by IBM in 1999.


Microelectronics: What a chip looks like?Microelectronics: What a chip looks like?

This is the inside of one chip showing microprocessorThis is the inside of one chip showing microprocessorand memory made by IBM in 1999.and memory made by IBM in 1999.


Microelectronics: What a wafer looks like?Microelectronics: What a wafer looks like?

The wafer can be sliced into 50-60 chips: Economical importance. The wafer can be sliced into 50-60 chips: Economical importance. If each chip sells for $200, one wafer values $10,000.If each chip sells for $200, one wafer values $10,000.


Microelectronics: What a packaged chip looks like?Microelectronics: What a packaged chip looks like?

Each chip can be packaged as shown above.Each chip can be packaged as shown above.


Microelectronics: Clean RoomMicroelectronics: Clean Room

Class 10 clean room in semiconductor industry: Class 10 clean room in semiconductor industry: 10 particles per cubic feet in air10 particles per cubic feet in air



High-tech workers are doing mask alignmentHigh-tech workers are doing mask alignment



High-tech workers are doing wafer processingHigh-tech workers are doing wafer processing



High-tech workers are doing wafer testHigh-tech workers are doing wafer test


Future of Microelectronics

YearYear SizeSize TransistorsTransistors Clock Clock speedspeed

TodayToday 0.200.20mm 10,000,00010,000,000700MHz700MHz

20102010 0.070.07mm 40,000,00040,000,000 4 GHz4 GHz

20152015 0.05 0.05 mm ~100,000,000~100,000,000 16 16 GHzGHz

Beyond 2015 Beyond 2015 ??????

Physical limit ------Need new devices and new conceptsPhysical limit ------Need new devices and new concepts


Nanoelectronics: Quantum dot devices

The dot size should be less than 5 nm to observe the room The dot size should be less than 5 nm to observe the room temperature Coulomb blockade effect. temperature Coulomb blockade effect.

Source Drain

Gate

-V/2 V/2

Island

-VC VC

I

V

Coulomb blockade effect: One electron entering into the dot will repel Coulomb blockade effect: One electron entering into the dot will repel the other electrons from entering. the other electrons from entering.


Nanoelectronics: Molecular devices


SummarySummary

• The invention and development of modern The invention and development of modern electronic computers have changed the world.electronic computers have changed the world.

• Microelectronics is the driving force for the Microelectronics is the driving force for the innovation of the computer technology.innovation of the computer technology.

• Nanotechnology will be the future for Nanotechnology will be the future for improvement of computers.improvement of computers.

dept. of electrical engineering university of kentucky computer chips: a world of microelectronics...

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