Wafer fab, process and packaging
From blank wafer to packaged die, explained step by step
Chartered Semi is a plain-language reference for chip design, wafer fabrication and advanced packaging, written for the people who work next to the process rather than around it.
Newest first
Latest explainers
The most recent guides published here, in the order they went up.
Lithium Battery Charging Basics Explained (October 2026)
Lithium battery charging basics explained in : the CC-CV process, charge voltages by chemistry, C-rates, BMS protection, temperature limits and safe…
Battery Management Systems Explained for Engineers 2026
Battery management systems explained block by block in : core components, state-of-charge estimation, cell balancing, protection layers and chemistry…
Switching vs Linear Regulator Differences for IC Designers 2026
Switching vs linear regulator differences come down to efficiency, noise and heat. See the numbers, the tradeoffs, and when each topology wins.
Buck Converter Operation Explained: A Simple 2026 Guide
Buck converter operation explained simply: how the switching cycle, inductor, capacitor and feedback loop step down voltage and regulate a steady output.
Voltage Regulator Types Compared: Linear, LDO, Switching (2026)
Voltage regulator types compared for : linear, LDO, buck, boost, buck-boost and PMICs, with efficiency, noise, ripple and current handling for each.
Op Amp Basics for Beginners: A Practical Guide 2026
Op amp basics for beginners in plain language: feedback, gain formulas, common configurations, key specs, and a safe first experiment. Updated for…
Inductor Basics for Electronics Beginners: A Simple Guide 2026
Learn inductor basics for electronics beginners: how inductors store energy, what the datasheet specs mean, and how to choose the right part…
Voltage Divider Design Explained: Formulas (2026)
Voltage divider design explained with formulas for resistor ratio, loading, power ratings and tolerance, plus worked 3.3 V and 48 V examples…
Transistor Biasing Basics Explained (2026): Beginner Guide
Transistor biasing basics explained in : Q-points, load lines, BJT and MOSFET bias circuits, a worked design example, and checks that keep…
The process stack
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Every guide is filed under the part of the flow it belongs to, from design through fab to assembly and test.
Asked at the design review
Questions this site answers
- What actually happens during a single lithography step?
- Why can a design that passes timing still fail in silicon?
- When does advanced packaging beat moving to a smaller node?
- Which process choices drive the cost of a wafer the most?
What this site is for
A reference for how chips get made
Chartered Semi explains how a chip goes from design intent and mask data through lithography, etch and deposition to assembly, packaging and test, one step at a time and without the marketing layer.
It is written for fabless engineers, EDA and IP users, students reading their way into the industry, and anyone who needs the process described in terms they can use.