GOLDEN, Colo.--Isonics Corp. here has disclosed that Advanced Micro Devices Inc. is studying the potential benefits of using silicon-28 wafer substrates to produce microprocessor products.
Silicon-28 material offers potential benefits in high-thermal conductivity, according to Isonics, which has been developing isotopically engineered wafers and chemicals for semiconductor fabrication. Earlier this year, the Colorado company hinted that a major microprocessor had become a development partner, but it only last week did Isonics identify AMD as that company.
Two weeks ago, AMD executives surprised financial analysts by announcing that the company would move 100% of its PC processors to silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers during the next several years (see July 13 story). SOI technology adds a layer of oxide between silicon layers, which reduces lost energy when transistors are operating at high frequencies. The silicon-on-insulator sandwich promises 20-to-30% performance gains over standard CMOS silicon wafers, according to SOI proponents.
It is not clear how or when AMD could also potentially use silicon-28 wafers in processor products.
Publicly-traded Isonics has faced a difficult year, including a dispute with its production partner, Eagle-Picher Technologies LLC, which was accused of failing to deliver silicon-28 wafers (see March 22 story).
RSS
Digital
10 emerging technologies to watch:
EE Times has compiled a list of emerging technologies that we think will be worth watching out for in 2010. Biofeedback or thought-control of electronics are among the contenders.
10 CEOs out in 2009:
It's been a tough year for the global electronics industry and CEOs. We survey the dismissal of 10 industry CEOs during the first three quarters of 2009 and what's ahead for the rest of the year.
Executive pay:
The economy stinks. Rank-and-file engineers are feeling the pain. What about technology CEOs? We crunched the numbers buried in corporate financial statements to find out. Here's what we found.
10 companies in trouble (revisited):
What follows is an updated version of 10 companies in trouble. Some companies have been removed since the last version, others remain. Still others have been added to the mix.
Early predictions for 2010:
The electronics industry is recovering, but there is still some uncertainty in the market. Some see a boom year in 2010. Some see a double dip. So what's in store for the rest of this year and 2010?
Top 10 IC vendors with cash:
The world's biggest IC companies by revenue rank not only among the best in their respective industry segments but are also more likely to have huge piles of cash that can be used to fund acquisitions, R&D and product development.
Notable women in microelectronics:
There is no better time than a global economic recession to examine the keys to successful corporate governance. So, EE Times has compiled an international list that celebrates women who are business and technology leaders in semis.
EE Times updates Silicon 60:
Seventeen companies have been added to the lastest version of our Silicon 60 list of emerging startups. Forty-three companies survived as emerging companies that are still worth watching.
RSS| 
Digital| 
Mobile
