edge bead

Residual resist that remains on the edge of a substrate after the application process

edge bead remover (EBR)

A solvent mix used in both the flat panel display and integrated circuit IC industries to remove photoresist at the substrate edge

etching

The process of using a solution, a mixture of solutions, or a mixture of gases that attacks the surfaces of a film or substrate, removing materials either selectively or nonselectively

film of contamination

A layer of contaminant on part or all of a substrate. An example is wax that has migrated onto the substrate surface.

FIRM

Type of proprietary rinse materials used to prevent defects and the collapse of stacks of silicon wafers

flat-panel display (FPD)

A thin lightweight video display used in laptops, televisions, mobile phones, and notebook computers and employing liquid crystals, electroluminescence, or a similar alternative to cathode-ray tubes

integrated circuit (IC)

A fabrication technology that combines most of the components of a circuit on a single-crystal silicon wafer generally used as a proxy for semiconductors

International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS)

The roadmap or technology assessment of the needs and challenges facing the semiconductor industry over the next 15 years

liquid crystal displays (LCD)

A low-power flat-panel display used in many laptop computers, televisions, and electronic devices, made up of a liquid crystal that is sandwiched between layers of glass or plastic that becomes opaque when electric current passes through it. The contrast between
the opaque and transparent areas forms visible characters.

light-emitting diode (LED)

A semiconductor diode that produces visible or infrared light when subjected to an electric current, as a result of electroluminescence

lithography

Process in which a masked pattern is projected onto a photosensitive coating that covers a substrate

miniaturization

The trend towards decreasing sizes of semiconductor chips enabled by technologies that facilitate narrower line widths and reduced feature sizes

Moore’s Law

Describes the industry impetus to fit more functionality in a semiconductor device and states that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit will double approximately every two years

novolac

Polycondensate resin made from phenolic monomers

organic light-emitting diode (OLED)

An LED in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compounds that emits light when an electric current passes through it. This technology is still in the development phase and is used mostly in small screens for mobile phones, MP3 players, car radios, and digital cameras.

PAC

Organic photoactive compounds, which is oil based and tends to be used in the production of photoresists

patterning

A process of photolithography of forming geometrical shapes by the use of photosensitive resists, masks, and etching techniques

PC

personal computer

perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)

An acid used in the photolithography process

perhydropolysilazane (PHPS)

A novel spin-on dielectric (insulation layer used in semiconductor chips). PHPS is rapidly replacing the existing chemical vapor deposition products, given its lower cost and superior performance characteristics.

pixel

The basic unit of programmable color on a computer display or in a computer image

photomask or mask

A structure comprising functional pattern images produced on a film, plastic, or glass-based material and accurately positioned so as to be useful for selective exposure of a photoresist coating

photoresist

A light-sensitive substance used to facilitate the transfer of glass substrate materials in semiconductor wafers in integrated circuits of flat-panel displays

polymer

A macromolecule made up of repeating chemical units, joined together typically by covalent bonds. Polymers enable nearly every phase of advanced electronic device manufacturing. From improving dielectric properties to enhancing physical characteristics, polymers are a key element in fabricating today's ever smaller ,
yet highly robust electronics devices.

propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME)

Oil-based solvent used in the manufacture of photoresists and edge bead removers primarily for use in the manufacture of integrated circuit materials

propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA)

Oil-based solvent used in the manufacture of photoresists and edge bead removers primarily for use in the manufacture of integrated circuit materials

RELACS™

Licensed shrink technology, used in the integrated circuit industry, that enables feature sizes to be significantly reduced while still using existing lithography equipment. The term RELACS™ comes from resolution enhancement lithography assisted by chemical shrink

resist

Photosensitive liquid-plastic film applied to the surface of a substrate for lithography

SAP

System Applications & Products

SEMATECH

Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, an international consortium of semiconductor manufacturers

SELETE

Semiconductor Leading Edge Technologies, a consortium for the development of silicon wafer technologies

semiconductor

An element that has an electrical resistivity in the range between conductors (such as aluminum) and insulators (such as silicon dioxide). Integrated circuits are typically fabricated in semiconductor materials such as silicon, germanium, or gallium arsenide.

SI or silicon

A brownish crystalline semimetal used to make the majority of semiconductor wafers