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Dalton Briggs

Dalton Briggs writes about IC design tools and chip architecture, tracing every spec claim back to its original datasheet rather than a press release.

Flip Chip Packaging Explained (2026): Process, Benefits

October 3, 2026 by Dalton Briggs
flip chip packaging explained

Flip chip packaging is a way of connecting a bare semiconductor die to a substrate or circuit board: the die is turned face-down so … Read more

Categories Packaging And Test Leave a comment

How Transistors Shrink and Why Scaling Is Slowing Down (2026)

October 3, 2026 by Dalton Briggs
how transistors shrink and why scaling is slowing down

Here is the short answer: transistors shrink because lithography keeps printing smaller features, and for decades each generation cut key dimensions by roughly 0.7x … Read more

Categories Process Technology Leave a comment

How Semiconductor Yield Is Calculated: Practical Guide (2026)

October 3, 2026 by Dalton Briggs
how semiconductor yield is calculated

The short version of how semiconductor yield is calculated is one division: the number of functional (good) dies divided by the total number of … Read more

Categories Wafer Fabrication Leave a comment

Dennard Scaling Explained: How Density Grew, Then Slowed 2026

October 3, 2026 by Dalton Briggs
dennard scaling explained

Dennard scaling is a law from a 1974 IEEE paper that says transistor dimensions, supply voltage and doping can be shrunk together so that … Read more

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Moore’s Law Explained for Beginners: A Simple Guide (2026)

October 2, 2026 by Dalton Briggs
moore's law explained for beginners

Moore’s Law is the observation, first published by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore in 1965, that the number of transistors you can fit on a … Read more

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What FinFET Transistors Are and How They Work (2026)

October 2, 2026 by Dalton Briggs
what finfet transistors are and how they work

A FinFET is a three-dimensional transistor in which the gate wraps around a thin, vertically standing silicon fin on three sides instead of controlling … Read more

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3nm vs 5nm Chip Process Comparison: PPA and Cost (October 2026)

October 2, 2026 by Dalton Briggs
3nm vs 5nm chip process comparison

Choosing between the 3nm and 5nm process nodes comes down to one question: does the smaller node buy enough performance-per-watt or logic density to … Read more

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What a Semiconductor Foundry Actually Does: Design to Wafer 2026

October 2, 2026 by Dalton Briggs
what a semiconductor foundry actually does

A semiconductor foundry is a company that manufactures chips other companies designed. It takes a finished layout file, prints that layout onto silicon wafers … Read more

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Foundry vs Fabless vs IDM Business Models Explained (October 2026)

October 2, 2026 by Dalton Briggs
foundry vs fabless vs idm business models explained

A foundry builds chips that other companies designed, a fabless company designs chips but owns no factory, and an IDM does both under one … Read more

Categories Wafer Fabrication Leave a comment

How Wafer Fabrication Works Step by Step for Beginners (2026)

October 2, 2026 by Dalton Briggs
how wafer fabrication works step by step

Here is the short version: wafer fabrication is the process of building microscopic transistors and wiring layers onto a polished silicon wafer, using repeating … Read more

Categories Wafer Fabrication Leave a comment
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  • ESD Protection in Chip Design Explained: A Guide (2026)
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  • What Electromigration Is and Why It Kills Chips: A Guide 2026
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