Larry Larson of IEEE Central Texas Section

The Austin local and National Newspapers, both technical and popular, trumpet the choice of Taylor TX for Samsung’s next Semiconductor Factory.  These headlines almost always emphasize the bit of information that the plant is expected to cost 17 billion Dollars.  That is almost an unimaginable level of expense, yet it is indicative of the cost trends of the industry and the gradual shifting of semiconductor manufacturing to mega-plants, capable of the highest level of integration and the largest wafers.

This talk will examine these cost drivers and attempt to integrate their effect to see just how big the number gets!  Expected contributors on the process side are the expected use of EUV lithography, leading edge materials solutions such as copper interconnect and high-k dielectric and simply the increasing number of metal layers required by advanced designs.  This is coupled however, with the cost effects of the best practices for semiconductor manufacturing:  The effect of 300mm tool cost, the cost of facilities and power, and possible choices made towards production volume and tool redundancy. 

Biography:

Dr. Lawrence Larson, is a retired Professor of Practice in the Electrical Engineering Program of the Ingram School of Engineering at Texas State University. He continues on a part-time basis teaching Semiconductor Device Physics and Semiconductor Manufacturing to the next generation.

Previously, he had a 20 year career at SEMATECH culminating as the Associate Director of the Front End Processes Division of SEMATECH. Key achievements during that period were the manufacturing improvement of mega-volt and low energy ion implanters, development of vertical furnace technologies and early materials development for high-k and metal gate technologies.

Of connected interest to the presentation: Dr. Larson currently serves as the Chair of the Central Texas Section of the IEEE, leads the CTS Student Activities effort, is the faculty advisor for the Texas State University Student Branch and Chairs the CTS Electron Devices Chapter.  

Email:

Address:Austin, Texas, United States,