Semiconductors and their Interaction with Software
July 12, 2024
July 12, 2024
Imagine a world without electronic devices—no radios, TVs, computers, video games, or advanced medical diagnostic equipment. While many of these devices could have been made using vacuum tube technology, the advancements in semiconductor technology over the past 50 years have made them smaller, faster, and more reliable.
Consider all the electronic devices you’ve interacted with in the last 24 hours. From smartphones and laptops to medical monitors and gaming consoles, each of these devices relies heavily on semiconductors.
These tiny yet powerful components are the backbone of modern electronics, making them an essential part of our daily lives.
“Semiconductors are the brains of modern electronics” - SIA
A semiconductor is a material that has properties between an insulator and a conductor. Typically composed of silicon, semiconductors conduct electricity better than insulators like glass but not as well as conductors like copper or aluminum. By introducing impurities, a process known as doping, the electrical properties of semiconductors can be precisely controlled to meet the specific needs of electronic components.
Semiconductors, also known as semis or chips, are found in a multitude of products, including computers, smartphones, appliances, gaming hardware, and medical equipment.
The development of semiconductors has been a journey of remarkable innovation. The first integrated circuit (IC) was created by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments in 1958 and by Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor in 1959. Kilby’s IC involved manually connecting components on a single piece of germanium, while Noyce’s version used silicon and included innovations that improved manufacturability and scalability.
Semiconductors have a huge impact on modern technology, underpinning a vast array of electronic devices and systems. Here are some key points highlighting their importance:
1. Foundation of Electronics
Semiconductors are the building blocks of the following components, which in turn are fundamental to the operation of a vast range of electronic devices.
Integrated Circuits: Semiconductors form the basis of integrated circuits (ICs), which are found in virtually all electronic devices, including computers, smartphones, and appliances. ICs enable the miniaturisation and performance enhancement of electronic systems.
Microprocessors: These chips, built on semiconductor technology, are the brains of computers and many other devices, enabling complex computations and control tasks.
2. Enabling Technology for Innovation
Computing Power: Advances in semiconductor technology have led to the exponential growth of computing power, often summarised by Moore's Law, which states that the number of transistors on a chip doubles approximately every two years. This has driven the development of powerful, compact, and energy-efficient devices.
Consumer Electronics: Semiconductors are essential in consumer electronics, including smartphones, tablets, televisions, and gaming consoles. They enable the processing, storage, and display of information, driving innovation and new functionalities.
3. Critical for Modern Infrastructure
Telecommunications: Semiconductors are at the heart of communication devices and infrastructure, including smartphones, base stations, and data centres. They support high-speed data transmission and connectivity, essential for the internet and mobile communications.
Energy Management: Semiconductors are used in power electronics for efficient energy conversion and management. They are integral to renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and smart grids, helping to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability.
4. Medical and Industrial Applications
Medical Devices: Semiconductors enable advanced diagnostic and therapeutic devices, such as MRI machines, ultrasound equipment, and wearable health monitors. These technologies improve patient care and outcomes.
Industrial Automation: In manufacturing and industrial processes, semiconductors are used in sensors, controllers, and robotic systems, enhancing precision, efficiency, and safety.
5. Economic Impact
High-Tech Industry: The semiconductor industry is a major driver of the global economy, with significant contributions to GDP and employment. It supports various sectors, including technology, automotive, healthcare, and telecommunications.
Innovation Ecosystem: The development and production of semiconductors spur innovation in related fields, including materials science, nanotechnology, and software engineering. This interdependence fosters a vibrant ecosystem of research and development.
6. National Security
Defence Systems: Semiconductors are critical for modern defence systems, including communications, radar, and navigation systems. They are essential for the development of advanced weaponry and surveillance technologies.
Supply Chain Security: The strategic importance of semiconductors has led to concerns about supply chain security and efforts to ensure the resilience and independence of semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
The process of making semiconductor chips involves several critical steps, each requiring precision and advanced technology. Here’s a detailed overview of how chips are made:
1. Raw Materials
Silicon Wafer: The primary material used in semiconductor manufacturing is silicon, which is extracted from sand and purified.
2. Wafer Preparation
Slicing: The silicon ingot is sliced into thin wafers.
Polishing: The sliced wafers are polished to a mirror-like finish to ensure a smooth surface for subsequent processing steps.
3. Photolithography
Coating: The wafer is coated with a light-sensitive photoresist material.
Masking: A photomask, which contains the desired circuit pattern, is placed over the wafer.
Exposure: Ultraviolet (UV) light is shone through the mask, transferring the pattern onto the photoresist.
Developing: The soluble photoresist is washed away, leaving a patterned photoresist on the wafer.
4. Etching
Etching: The exposed areas of the silicon wafer are etched away using chemical or plasma etching, creating the desired circuit patterns on the wafer.
Photoresist Removal: The remaining photoresist is removed, leaving the etched patterns on the wafer.
5. Doping
Doping: Impurities (dopants) are introduced into specific areas of the silicon wafer to modify its electrical properties.
6. Deposition
Layering: Additional layers of materials are deposited onto the wafer to form various components of the semiconductor device.
Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD): A common technique for depositing thin films of material onto the wafer surface.
7. Planarization
Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP): The wafer is polished again to ensure a flat and smooth surface.
8. Metallization
Metal Layers: Metal layers are deposited and patterned to form interconnections between different components on the chip.
Etching and Polishing: The metal layers are etched and polished to create precise electrical pathways.
9. Testing and Packaging
Testing: Each chip on the wafer is tested for functionality using automated testing equipment.
Dicing: The wafer is diced into individual chips.
Packaging: The individual chips are packaged to protect them and to provide a means for connecting them to external circuits.
10. Final Testing
Quality Control: The finished chips undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet all specifications and performance criteria before being shipped to customers.
Software interacts with semiconductor chips in various ways, playing a critical role in the functionality, performance, and reliability of electronic devices. Here is an overview of how this interaction occurs:
1. Firmware
Firmware is low-level software programmed directly into the non-volatile memory of a chip. It provides the necessary instructions for how the device should operate. Firmware initialises hardware components, manages basic system functions, and provides an interface for higher-level software to interact with hardware.
Examples include BIOS/UEFI in computers and embedded firmware in devices like routers and printers.
2. Operating Systems (OS)
An operating system is software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. The OS communicates with chips via drivers, which are specialised programs that translate the OS's generic instructions into specific commands for the hardware.
For instance, CPU scheduling, memory management, and peripheral control are managed by the OS interacting with the hardware.
3. Device Drivers
Device drivers are specialised software that controls and operate specific hardware devices attached to the system. Drivers act as translators between the operating system and hardware.
For example, a graphics driver translates high-level commands from the OS into low-level commands specific to the GPU, allowing the OS to render images on the screen.
4. Middleware
Middleware is software that provides common services and capabilities to applications outside of what's offered by the OS. Middleware facilitates communication and data management for distributed applications.
For example, a database middleware translates application queries into data operations on storage hardware.
5. Application Software
Application software includes programs designed for end-users, like word processors, games, and web browsers. Applications interact with hardware indirectly through the OS and drivers.
For instance, a video game sends rendering commands to the OS, which then uses the GPU driver to execute these commands on the GPU.
6. Software Development Kits (SDKs) and APIs
SDKs are collections of software development tools that enable the creation of applications for specific platforms, while APIs are sets of functions and protocols that allow software applications to interact with each other. SDKs and APIs abstract the complexity of hardware interactions, allowing developers to build applications without needing to manage low-level hardware details.
For example, graphics APIs like OpenGL or DirectX enable software to utilise GPU capabilities without detailed hardware programming.
7. Virtual Machines and Emulators
Virtual machines (VMs) allow multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine, while emulators replicate hardware functionality. VMs and emulators translate instructions meant for one hardware environment into another, allowing software designed for one type of hardware to run on a different system. This involves translating CPU instructions and managing memory and I/O operations.
8. Hardware Abstraction Layers (HAL)
A HAL is an abstraction layer between the physical hardware and the software that runs on it.
The HAL allows the OS and applications to interact with hardware in a standardised way, regardless of the underlying hardware differences. This abstraction simplifies software development and enhances portability across different hardware platforms.
At Day Devs, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of software development to harness the full potential of semiconductor technology, with one of our latest projects with Arm. Our expertise spans across various industries, enabling us to provide tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of our clients. By leveraging the latest advancements in semiconductor technology, we ensure that our software solutions are not only efficient and reliable but also scalable and future-proof.
Whether you need custom software development, consultancy, or optimization services, Day Devs is here to help you navigate the complex landscape of modern technology and achieve your business goals. For more information about our services, visit Day Devs.
Saemie is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Day Devs, with a background in application development and software engineering since 2010. Passionate about the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, he is dedicated to finding where AI truly excels. His main focus is the chip industry, and he is excited about its future innovations and possibilities.
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