They control the computers we use to conduct business, the phones and mobile devices we use to communicate, the cars and planes that get us from place to place, the machines that diagnose and treat illnesses, the military systems that protect us, and the electronic gadgets we use to listen to music, watch movies, and play games, just to name a few.
And not only does semiconductor technology make these devices possible, it also makes them more compact, less expensive, and more powerful.
For example, in , mobile phones weighed about 2 lbs. At SIA, a common theme of the initiatives we support — policies to drive innovation, research programs of our affiliated organizations, etc.
Working together, we can ensure that semiconductors continue to improve our lives. And our greatest potential still lies ahead. From aerospace and consumer electronics to energy and medicine, entire industries will be transformed.
The semiconductor industry has a longstanding tradition of partnering with government to spur innovation and build a bridge to the future. In the s, the industry teamed with the government to establish SEMATECH, which sponsors advanced semiconductor manufacturing research and is now recognized by many as the ideal model of public-private collaboration. SRC has launched hugely successful government-industry-university research partnerships that are unmatched in size and scope by programs in other industries.
The federal government should maintain its share of the partnership and fund scientific research at sustainable levels. Through collaboration, and effective government policies, America will continue to lead the world and the semiconductor industry will continue to create jobs, drive economic growth, and develop the technologies needed to build our future. Semiconductors are a foundational technology for virtually all areas of our economy. Semiconductors were invented in America, and the U.
The semiconductor industry directly employs about , workers in the United States, and for every direct job there are 4. That equals more than 1 million additional jobs as a result of a thriving U.
Even more impressive is that a job in the semiconductor industry pays on average 2. Contrary to the popular perception that most high-tech manufacturing has been offshored to Asia, advanced semiconductor manufacturing remains strong in the U. In fact, about half of U. The key to maintaining the advancements that fuel our industry and the U. Unfortunately, U. For example, the percentage of U.
But while most people have heard of semiconductors, very few people know much about them. Consider this your introduction to the world of semiconductors. A semiconductor is a physical substance designed to manage and control the flow of current in electronic devices and equipment. A semiconductor sits between a conductor and an insulator and is commonly used in the development of electronic chips, computing components, and devices. Semiconductors are created by adding impurities to the element.
The conductance or inductance of the element depends on the type and intensity of the added impurities. There are two basic types of semiconductors. An N-type semiconductor is used when its conductance is higher, or there is a large number of free electrons. A P-type semiconductor is used when its inductance is higher, and there are less free electrons.
Conventional devices and components built by using a semiconductor include, computer memory, integrated circuits, diodes, and transistors. Although not found as a free element in nature, it occurs as oxide and silicates including agate, amethyst, citrine, jasper, flint, opal, quartz , and sand. Silicon metal is derived from reactions between silicon dioxide and carbon materials like coal and wood chips. Regarding the significant producers of silicon for wafers, there are many suppliers in the U.
It is believed that China is the largest producer of silicon, followed by the United States. Germanium is a chemical element that is similar in appearance to silicon, and not found as a free element in nature because of its reactivity factor. Germanium is less useful than silicon due to its thermal sensitivity and cost, but it is still alloyed with silicon for use in some high-speed devices.
IBM is a primary producer of these devices. Because semiconductors are such a valuable item, companies are constantly searching for new, better ways to make them. The search for new semiconductors begins on the periodic table of the elements. In the IVA column, each element forms bonds by sharing four of its electrons with four neighbors. The strongest of the group is carbon, used for building diamonds. In a process called doping, small amounts of impurities are added to pure semiconductors causing large changes in the conductivity of the material.
Due to their role in the fabrication of electronic devices, semiconductors are an important part of our lives. Imagine life without electronic devices.
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