SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Types of Chips

The semiconductor industry produces many kinds of chips, which go into today's electronic products. Following are just a few:

Dynamic Random Access Memory chips (DRAMs) serve as the primary memory for computers--today's computers may have as many as eight DRAMs on a circuit board to provide users with optimum memory. DRAMs can retain memory only as long as they receive power, so when a computer is turned off, their memory is erased. When you type information into your computer, your DRAMs store the data until you save it to a disk.

Microprocessors (MPUs) act as the brains of computers. They include a central processing unit and programmable memory. It is your computer's microprocessor which tells it what to do when you turn the computer on. Microprocessors are also used in other electronic products.

Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) are custom semiconductors designed for very specific functions and are used in electronic products, such as camcorders, automobile air bag systems, and printers.

Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) process signals, such as image and sound signals or radar pulses. DSPs convert analog signals to digital and analyze, enhance, filter, modulate and otherwise manipulate the signals at high speed. DSPs are used in cellular phones, scanners, high-speed modems, and many other products.

Programmable memory chips (EPROMs, EEPROMs, and Flash) are used to perform functions that require programming on the chip which is retained even when the chip is receiving no electrical power. These chips are used in cellular phones, video games, handheld computing devices, and other products.