Precision design

Increasing semiconductor performance requirements are driving more complexity in devices and the need for new manufacturing processes. Many semiconductors have intricate 3-D structures that require manufacturing precision down to the nanometer—which is roughly 100,000 times smaller than a human hair. To help address these challenges, Gatan offers a line of high-resolution imaging products for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) that helps researchers and manufacturers analyze semiconductors with incredible clarity.

To meet the growing demand for semiconductors in AI and data center-related segments, manufacturers and designers need to analyze materials for performance enhancement and device reliability. CAMECA’s Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) and Atom Probe Tomography (APT) instruments are used in the research and design of semiconductor devices to measure micron to nanometer level material composition. CAMECA’s high-end analytical instrumentation is essential to semiconductor manufacturers to accelerate the development of new materials and optimize process control accuracy.

Material fault is a key reason for semiconductor failure. Trace impurities can lead to short circuits and malfunctioning devices. SPECTRO Analytical Instruments and Nu Instruments are market leaders in precision analytical instrumentation, providing technologies designed to precisely quantify trace level impurities in semiconductor materials, giving confidence in integrated circuit manufacturing and reliability.

Advanced fabrication

Semiconductors are one of the key enablers for rapidly developing technology optics, such as lenses and mirrors, which are critical components in the manufacturing process. Taylor Hobson designs and manufactures industry-leading metrology instruments dedicated to measuring optical surfaces with nanometric accuracy. These instruments enable the measurement of complex optical surfaces that cannot be easily measured with conventional optical metrology methods, which ensures efficient manufacturing of optical components used in devices ranging from televisions to satellites. 

Haydon Kerk Pittman remains a leading provider of cleanroom-rated, custom lead screw stepper actuators and integrated brushed/brushless gearmotor solutions, designed for the semiconductor industry’s most precise applications. Their highly modular products offer compact footprints and flexible configurations, supporting customers from early-stage prototyping through high-volume production.

The production of advanced semiconductor devices requires very low vibration levels in the manufacturing process to ensure chips can be developed with extreme precision and high yield. Thick concrete floors are one way to minimize vibration but can be costly and bad for the environment due to greenhouse gases associated with concrete production. AMETEK TMC has developed a more effective method with their Quiet Island vibration solutions which are designed to target vibration control for sensitive instruments.

Across AMETEK, our experts are focused on making the next generation of semiconductors smaller, smarter, and more reliable. For a full list of AMETEK businesses and the role they play in advancing the future of semiconductors, click here.