Semiconductor Research Corp. (SRC), a
university-research consortium for semiconductors and related technologies,
announced it is leading an effort to address key roadblocks for wide-scale
adoption of the emerging 3D integration of integrated circuits (IC) and
systems. These new initiatives will develop solutions that address critical
reliability and design tool issues and leverage a partnership formed by
researchers from universities and the semiconductor industry at large.

“The development of the 3D technology
platform that can enable all the benefits this breakthrough technology has to
offer will be as disruptive and beneficial as the invention of the integrated
circuit itself,” said Jon Candelaria, director of Interconnect and
Packaging Sciences at SRC.

SRC is driving these initiatives as a part
of the 3D Enablement
Center program in
partnership with SEMATECH and the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). The
program aims to establish the infrastructure, including industry standards and
specifications, necessary for the industry to leverage 3D packaging technology
for innovative new applications, as well as for enabling smaller, faster and
lower power IC’s for existing product families.

It has been recognized that the reliability
issues for these emerging 3D integration platforms are not merely extensions of
conventional 2D IC technology issues, but also bring many unique and complex
challenges that require innovative solutions.

In addition, the sophisticated software
tools created and developed over the years to design more complex 2D integrated
circuits systems will not extend easily to 3D. The challenges include the
optimization of each layer of circuitry that could be stacked together, the
partitioning and placement of each of billions of individual devices, and the
routing and timing of signals to all of these.

“SRC’s support and management of an
extensive research portfolio in these and many other related areas uniquely
qualify us to lead these new initiatives working with our university and
industry colleagues, and we expect this effort to play a key role in the short
term while having an even greater long-term impact,” Candelaria said.

Semiconductor
Research Corp., www.src.com