Microcontrollers are used in almost every field in the modern world that make our lives easier and the little jarheads. Well, this is a complicated circuit How is it generated? The answer to this question, both high-tech production is based on a process that contains and highly sensitive transactions. Every day that we are holding smart phones, our cars, our microcontroller is equipped with everything these in white goods. Of the production process and technical so fascinating, both are full of interesting and surprising when taken step-by-step details. Take a closer look at the details of this process!
What is silicone and why is it so important?
Silicon is the basic raw material in the production of microchips. However, the thing that should come to mind when we say our silicone, the material is not an ordinary; %99.9999 percent purified in crystalline form are made of silicone.
Sand, which is found in nature as Silicon, processed with highly is turned into a pure crystal. This purity, the microcontroller used in the production of transistors and other structures is vital for that to work without errors. Well, this is how to obtain the pure silicon?
The production of crystalline silicon, start from scratch and extremely complex process. First, silicon is extracted from nature, is melted and purified in a special kiln. Then ‘part of a silicon crystal core, this is dipped into the molten pool. Crystal lifted up slowly rotated around the silicone molecules are added to the core. This process continues until a large pure silicon crystals are formed. This cylindrical structure of ‘ingot’ is called. This ingot is then cut into thin slices called wafers and circular plates are obtained. This waferlar, microcontrollers are the base of surfaces may be produced.
What is wafer, and how it is produced?
Wafer, obtained by cutting into the thin layer of silicon, typically having a thickness of 300 mm diameter and micrometer-level plate. Wafer, transistors and circuits will be created where the microcontroller which is the heart of the platform. These plates through the process includes a large number of transistors and other electronic components on billions. However, wafer production, not only physical it’s not slicing process, is an extremely delicate and complex process.
The wafersurface should be as smooth as possible. Therefore, after cleaning and polishing the cutting process passes through a series of stages. Even with a small error in the surface, the manufacturing process can cause huge problems in the future. Therefore, each of the wafers are examined at the microscopic level and ensure that they are flawless. On a wafer hundreds, even thousands microcontroller can be produced.
Technologies Used In Production
Among the main technologies used in the production of the microcontroller, photolithography, doping, metallization and packaging facility. In each of these processes, highly sensitive and huge production facilities is a process, is performed in a clean room environment.
1. Photolithography: Circuit Creating The Pattern
Photolithography, is one of the most critical stages of the production microcontroller. In this process, the circuit pattern on a wafer is a technique where a combination of light and chemicals used to inscribe. A photosensitive coating and the coating is applied on the silicon wafer, in accordance with the circuit design that are processed with UV light. Light, when you are dropped onto a wafer, the circuit allows the creation of paths. This stage enables the creation of micrometer-sized circuit elements.
Each light with a burst of start forming circuit patterns on the wafer. In this stage, almost can be considered as a photograph printed in the darkroom. However, this ‘photo’, creates billions of transistors on silicon and circuit elements. Photolithography, is the heart of modern semiconductor manufacturing.
2. Doping: Electrical Properties Setting
After photolithography, doping is applied on the wafer. To adjust the electrical conductivity of the Silicon Doping is performed. In this process, a silicon waferwith a certain chemicals are added, And these chemicals are placed between the silicon atoms, conductivity properties of the material change. Of the transistors ‘on’ and ‘off’ States, this is provided with doping.
Doping doping is a very delicate process because the process is incorrect, the entire circuit can render it useless. At this stage, ions, or gases given regions in the wafer of the material N-type or P-type semiconductor properties to gain is provided.
3. Metallization: Creation Of Connection Channels
Transistors and other circuit elements are created after each of these elements as well as connecting to other means. Metallization, wafer placement of circuit elements onto a thin metal layer and electrically connecting to each other in the process. These layers typically include conductive metals such as copper or aluminum.
Metallization, and provides connections between circuit elements in the size of micrometers. This stage is similar to the construction of roads in a city so to speak. All circuit elements, this thin metal communicate with each other through paths. The metallization process is performed with great precision because an error will occur in any one of these ways, the operation of the entire circuit can prevent.
4. Packaging: Ready To Microcontrollers
After the metallization phase is complete, the circuit elements on a wafer is tested and verified. Then, the wafer with laser cut slices, each with a microcontroller separately are removed. This microcontroller are specially packaged to enable it to be connected to the outside world. The packaging process protects both the microcontroller allows the integration of both devices. At this stage, microcontrollers, through the pins that can be connected to external circuits is made.
Microcontroller In Production Throughout The World: Where Who Makes It?
There are many giant firms engaged in the production of the microcontroller in the world. Among these are Intel, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, NXP Semiconductors , and Microchip Technology stands out from big names such as. These companies, the United States, Taiwan, China, tech giants such as South Korea and Japan is engaged in the production in the country. Taiwan, especiallyin TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer.
Worldwide semiconductor production, extremely heavily has become a competitive field. This production is produced and each year billions of microchips is faced with a growing demand. Especially the COVID-19 pandemic with the semiconductor supply chain problems, has increased the interest in this sector.
Production Of The Microcontroller In Turkey
Although the microcontroller has not yet reached the world standards of production in Turkey in recent years has made important strides. Domestic production activities under the national defense industry and technology, especially the move has accelerated. ASELSAN, TUBITAK sage I and HAVELSAN organizations, such as semiconductor microcontroller and invests in technologies. Turkey’s goal in this area by reducing the country’s dependence, domestic production is to increase the capacity.
Among the plans of Turkey in this area, more R & D investment and domestic technology companies to support it. In particular, the ongoing projects of Aselsan of Turkey in the production of the microcontroller and the chip becoming self-sufficient in terms of a great importance. Turkey, a long-term targets in line with the country aims to be a global competitive in this area.
Turkey’s future plans and investments
Turkey production in the microcontroller, the future of the largely state-funded projects and is based on the development of local technology companies. The National Technology move within the context of local and national incentives provided important in producing products. Especially Aselsan, HAVELSAN and defense industry organizations such as TUBITAK, is playing a leading role in this regard. However, scientific research in universities and private sector partnerships is an important driving force for the sector to move forward.
Turkey isone of the biggest challenges of semiconductor technologies is an expert in human resources and increasing the expansion of knowledge in this area. In this context, in our Country, Education Programs, Special departments within the Faculty of engineering and R & D work is also the architects stands out as the technology of the future steps towards their training. Especially for critical sectors such as automotive and defense is aimed at increasing domestic production.
The microcontroller in the production of new technologies and future trends.
The microcontroller in the production of several important trends will become more apparent in the following years. These artificial intelligence-based production and technologies of quantum semiconductor comes to use in the field. Optimized production processes with artificial intelligence, it will further reduce the error rate and improve production efficiency. On the other hand, quantum computers , such as new technologies, architectures of microcontrollers transform, and compared to existing technology will allow us to produce much stronger and more efficient processors.
In addition, energy efficiency is also a major focus in the production of the microcontroller will continue to be. With each passing day produce smaller devices, and reduce the energy consumption of these devices, is important from the standpoint of environmental sustainability. Especially smart homes, autonomous vehicles and wearable technologies that will be used in both of the microcontrollers high-performance and energy savings is expected to provide.
Difficulties In The Manufacturing Process
The microcontroller in the production of high technology, require highly sensitive and costly process. One of the key challenges in this process, the shrinking of the size with increasing complexity. When we get down to the nanometer level, the dimensions of the transistor, it is difficult to produce without error. Therefore, the production facilities will not be able to tolerate even the smallest margin of error at a level must be clean. Clean rooms, dust particles, even with great care to prevent damage to the circuit elements is preserved.
Another challenge of raw materials in the supply chain disruptions. The supply of raw materials that are required for the production of Silicon delays or cost increases that may occur in the manufacturing process can affect considerably. In recent years, the global semiconductor attack, is one of the clearest examples of this situation.
Microcontrollers: the future of innovations and expectations
In the future, the microcontroller the production of smaller and faster processors to not only develop, but also more intelligent and autonomous systems will offer solutions. Advanced sensor technologies, artificial intelligence and the integration of more advanced communication protocols, will broaden the usage of microcontrollers.
For example, 5G , and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, the microcontroller, the demand will increase even more. Smart cities, autonomous vehicles, next-generation technologies such as wearable medical devices, the microcontroller will need to increasingly complex and powerful. At this point, developing countries such as Turkey in order to receive a share of this market is critical to the acceleration of investments in advanced technology.
As A Result
Microcontroller in production throughout the world and this sector is a rapidly growing sector of today’s technology that constitute the basic building blocks of microcontrollers us about how it is produced and offers a captivating glimpse. The beginning of the purification of silicon transistors and on a microscopic scale by producing this ongoing process, affecting the daily lives of millions of people plays a critical role in the production of devices.
Turkeysteps in this area in the future, it may result in more domestic production technology and innovation. Developments in the production of the microcontroller in the world, form the basis of the greatest technological revolutions in human history. To follow the developments in this field, is of great importance for understanding the technology of the future. If you buyulediy this process if a microcontroller, and how so complex at the same time, a tool that makes our lives easier is becoming more in-depth to examine the production process, it will be exciting to take a closer look.