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Questions tagged [silicon]

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1 answer
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Is an IGBT comprised of many micro sized transistors, or is it just a single device in itself?

Below is a typical IGBT structure that we studied in the regular course. Someone told me that there are thousands of small transistors that make up an IGBT. As I understand it, there are a number of ...
Viswashh's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
34 views

Quasi-polarity behavior of silicon capacitor that then reverses when put in use?

What could cause a silicon capacitor to start behaving like a quasi-polar capacitor? A filter involves two 100pF SMD silicon capacitors(600S101FT250T). Two such filters (for two channels) are ...
James Bowery's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
153 views

What is this SMD common mode choke?

A pair of components was accidentally destroyed on my Korg Volca Modular synth: Through the magic of getting another identical synth, I was able to see how it is supposed to be on a working unit: ...
Mat Dee's user avatar
  • 23
6 votes
3 answers
243 views

Behaviour of uninitialised RAM in an ASIC

This is a question for anyone with experience designing or with a deep knowledge of volatile memory in an ASIC. E.g. chip designers or silicon process engineers. We are using the ET1200 EtherCAT ASIC (...
Rocketmagnet's user avatar
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14 votes
6 answers
7k views

Why are microprocessors made using silicon and not germanium? [closed]

I heard that microprocessors are usually made using silicon, yet germanium has a better conductive state. Why isn't germanium not chosen instead, taking to account that better conductors provide ...
kopon stanley's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
206 views

The effect of silicon diode vs Schottky diode as reverse voltage protection of a LED

I have a 24Vac, 50Hz source and RGB LED to be driven from it. As the LED reverse max is like 5V, I have to prevent the reverse half cycle of voltage from being applied across the LED. There are two ...
Kaush's user avatar
  • 71
1 vote
1 answer
142 views

Non-Schottky SiC diodes

Hopefully this isn't too much of a shopping question. I am looking for off-the-shelf silicon carbide P-N junction diodes, but all I can find are Schottky ones. Do P-N version ones even exist ...
user1402154's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
26 views

Any spec detailing physical properties (length, area, shape) and sillicon dopping concentration of standard NPN transistors such as BC 107?

I'm trying to find the physical constructive parameters (especially doping levels) of the common NPN transistor BC 107/108/109 but I can't find any resource detailing this things, only the standard ...
Mihai B.'s user avatar
  • 111
5 votes
2 answers
830 views

Inside a 2N3904 transistor TO-92 package

I cracked open this 2N3904 transistor. I lack the means to test its function until tomorrow. The die doesn't look like anything I've ever seen before. I'm not quite sure where the silicon is. In your ...
Aaron Butkovich's user avatar
3 votes
5 answers
294 views

Are semiconductors (specifically silicon) the only materials that can be used for making image sensors in digital cameras?

Could no other type of materials be used even if it means an entirely different sensor design or layout?
LucaMancini's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
350 views

Using 1N4148 as temperature sensor for absolute temperature

Please forget the "why" for now, but I am attempting to determine the temperature of a 1N4148WS-E3 part by doing two measurements at different current setpoints. I've done some tests and ...
Graafvaag's user avatar
  • 166
0 votes
0 answers
143 views

Removal of electronic silicone caulk sealant

A controller is sitting under the sealant. I have tried to open it using hot air but no so successful. Can anyone please suggest me any solvent or easiest method to soften and remove the sealant.
Bender's user avatar
  • 1
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Silicon wafer crystal orientation

I'm confused about how [110] direction is determined for (100), (110) or (111) wafers. I found a book chapter which just confused me even more. From the image below, I understand how [110] is ...
JOHN's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
0 answers
338 views

Max switching speed on CMOS

Is it possible to generate a 500 giga hertz square wave on CMOS technology in order to switch a circuit? If not what's the max frequency CMOS can switch?
Charlizard's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
89 views

Why do we use silicon in the crystal direction [1 0 0]?

In MOSFET, we use silicon in crystal direction [1 0 0] , while we use direction [1 1 1] in BJT. What is the reason? I expect the opposite, because we see more atoms on the surface in the direction [1 ...
mohammad rezza's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
350 views

How does one manufacture a P-N junction?

When I read a physics textbook about a P-N junction, it will tell me that you connect a P-doped semiconductor to an N-doped semiconductor, and you form a depletion region. From what I know about ...
Roy's user avatar
  • 185
0 votes
1 answer
615 views

Why do we use LDD technique in IC fabrication technology?

Why do we use LDD(lightly doped drain) in IC fabrication technology? In the "silicon VLSI technology" book, was mentioned that this is in order to create a voltage drop in drain region. So ...
mohammad rezza's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
536 views

Why do NPNP thyristors remain on but NPN transistors don't after gate voltage is removed?

My understanding is that when a positive voltage is applied to the gate in a thyristor, the P region can store excess electrons which can then move to the n region. I don't understand why it continues ...
Alekk's user avatar
  • 75
0 votes
2 answers
226 views

Could we use holes in an NMOS?

In an NMOS we have a p-substrate, and we use a positive voltage to attract negative charge "to the top". But could we have used negative charge to attract holes instead and gotten a "...
user394334's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
156 views

Need help identifying this 8" silicon wafer

I just received this silicon wafer that I bought off of eBay to decorate my wall, but I'm curious as to what the chips would be used for. I reached out to the seller, but they didn't know. The wafer ...
Farseer00's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
237 views

Silicon Controlled Switch Problem [closed]

Can someone correct me and help me draw this SCS circuit diagram for a breadboard before I do the actual circuit? I tried using Multisim but since I'm new to it, it was hard for me to do so.
user294753's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
128 views

Is there a common ballpark estimate for the percentage of an IC package that is taken up by the die?

Not a very technical question but I'm interested in finding out the average size of a 3-axis accelerometer die. I’m finding that the smaller package sizes are around 2x2x1mm, is there a way of ...
Sneaky Puffin's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
2k views

What is the resistivity of n- and p-type silicon at operating temperatures?

Searching around for the resistivity of p and n silicon, so far I can only find data such as this: image source Notice it says "Room Temperature Silicon". What I want to know is the ...
DrZ214's user avatar
  • 1,087
5 votes
3 answers
2k views

Why are there no P-channel SiC (silicon-carbide) FETs?

Looking at the top distributors, seems only N-channel power SiC are carried. Why is that?
rdtsc's user avatar
  • 16.4k
10 votes
1 answer
4k views

Why do silicon wafers look rainbow colored?

. Image taken from Can somebody identify this 12" silicon wafer? So this silicon wafer looks multicolored (and beautiful). But how does it get multicolored like a rainbow? What is the reason for ...
Shashank V M's user avatar
  • 2,331
1 vote
1 answer
511 views

Solar cell DIY with monocrystalline silicon wafer

I would like to make my own solar cell. From a quick search on YouTube, these two videos are apparently always the #1 result for "solar cell diy" keyword or similar: Video 1 Video 2 The ...
gardin's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
1 answer
158 views

Why is the number of electrons in a silicon bar dependent on cross-section, when we inject electrons into it?

I am asked the following question: In Example 2.9, compute the total number of electrons “stored” in the material from x = 0 to ...
Giorgi Aptsiauri's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
602 views

Why is CVD not used in the manufacture of NMOS gate oxides?

I know that chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a vacuum deposition method used to produce high-quality, high-performance solid materials. The process is often used in the manufacture of semiconductors ...
LUFER's user avatar
  • 469
0 votes
0 answers
40 views

Porous silicon simulator

What software does porous silicon simulations? I didn't find it in my searches. The closest was TCAD Atlas, but it gives more prominence to cmos. I would like to know if there is (names) software that ...
LUFER's user avatar
  • 469
3 votes
1 answer
179 views

Calculation for IC lifetime for supply voltage overvoltage

What calculation can be used to calculate the lifetime of an embedded processor (<28nm process) when subject to a slight overvoltage? The supply rail in question is for analog portions of the ...
Jack Bourne's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

Why is silicon used as PCBs?

I know why silicon is used for ICs and transistors in general due to its doping features. But I don't know why we use silicon as a PCBs, all we need is to isolate pins from each other in a PCB, right? ...
Mohamed Abduljawad's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
155 views

In an intrinsic semiconductor, are there the same number of carrier electrons and holes? Or this is just exclusive for silicon?

I am working with some polymers that behave like semiconductors when they are plugged into the current. I am calculating the mobility of these polymers and I need the value of the current density (J) ...
Abdel Ruvalcaba's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
1k views

Silicon-free amplifier

I'm working on building a silicon free computer and I need a way to store information after power off. Right now, solid core memory seems like the best option. However, the sense line of solid core ...
Firewolf's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can somebody identify this 12" silicon wafer?

I just bought a silicon wafer off of eBay to decorate my office. The seller didn't tell/know, but I'm dead curious as to what this wafer is. Could anyone help me identify which chips should have been ...
Romain's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Silicon Labs CP2102 usb recognition error

Good Morning everyone, I have recently designed a circuitry design for the named chip "CP2102N-A02-GQFN24". Problems appear after connecting the chip to the computer. It doesn't get ...
Paul's user avatar
  • 151
2 votes
2 answers
187 views

starting material for silicon production

Where does silicon semiconductor manufacturing start from? I mean, what are the principal ores that may be used to start the technological process and what extraction process is used? (And what are ...
trying's user avatar
  • 102
1 vote
1 answer
490 views

Switch the PNP BJT transistor

This is my buck/boost converter in the simulation. I get the desired voltage of -12 V but in the real circuit I am only getting -4.88 V, and my transistor heats up; I think it is even burned. I don't ...
Salha Shomary's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
35 views

Indoor / outdoor solar cell (Amorton): maximum light conditions

I am currently searching for a proper solar cell to power an IoT device (just a simple logging device). Although it is just for my own usage, the sensor should be properly engineered. My main ...
Junius's user avatar
  • 1,083