Tools Used to Make Computer Chips
A computer chip is manufactured in a clean room, which ensures that the air is clean and that no contaminants deposit on the chip. There are many different tools that are required to make computer chips, including a furnace, etching device, machines to sputter metal and a mask maker.
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What is a computer chip?
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A computer chip is a piece of silicon that has electrical circuits in it. These circuits are connected in such a way to create complex functionality.
How is a computer chip made?
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A computer chip is made by taking a silicon wafer, adding metal and insulators on top to create circuits, and testing and packaging the chip.
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What machines help make silicon wafers?
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A furnace is needed to create the silicon ingot. A diamond saw cuts the ends of the ingot and the ingot is sliced into wafers. A lapping device flattens the ingots to smooth the wafer down.
What tools are used to make computer chips?
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A clean room is needed to keep the air free from particles. A mask maker is needed to create the template for each metal and dielectric layer. An etching device is needed to create the pattern, and an ion implantation machine is needed to dope the different areas. A sputtering machine is needed to deposit the metal.
What tools are used to test and package chips?
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Once the chip is finished, a tester and saw is needed to test and cut each chip. The silicon chip then gets put it into the packaging so that the user can add it to a motherboard.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Windell Oskay
