Semiconductor
Electronics Division: The NIST focal point for semiconductor
research and measurement services, SED develops test chips,
Standard Reference Materials, software, and other tools
that are useful to chip makers and their suppliers. Contact:
David Seiler,
(301) 975-2054.
Advanced
Technology Program-Information Technology and Electronics
Office (ITEO): Part of NIST's competitive grants program
for industry, this ATP office concentrates on long-term
technology challenges and opportunities in microelectronics
and optoelectronics manufacturing. Contact: Michael
Schen, (301) 975-6741.
Go to a list of ATP-funded
electronics and photonics R&D projects.
Services,
Products, Useful References
Calibration
Services: These NIST services help makers and users
of precision instruments achieve the highest possible levels
of measurement quality and productivity. Relevant examples
include calibrations in the areas of laser
power and energy, resistance and other electrical parameters,
thermometry, leak and flow rates, vacuum measurements, and
dimensional measurements.
Databases:
Designers of integrated circuits and manufacturing engineers
need lots of accurate data. NIST provides many databases
useful to the semiconductor and electronics industries.
Hall
Effect Measurements: Describes the Hall measurement
technique for determining free-carrier density and mobility
in semiconductor materials.
NIST/SEMATECH
Engineering Statistics Handbook: This extensive on-line
resource is intended to help scientists and engineers efficiently
incorporate statistical methods into their work. Major topics
covered include: exploratory data analysis, process characterization,
process modeling, process improvement, monitoring and control,
assessing reliability, and more.
Software:
NIST provides software to help calculate properties, design
microstructures, and measure features.
Standard
Reference Materials: NIST-developed measurement references
ensure accurate, reliable measurements in all sectors of
U.S. industry. Phone: (301) 975-6776, e- mail: srminfo@nist.gov.
Compound Semiconductors
Growing
wireless and cellular phone markets have spurred demand
for chips made from gallium-arsenide or related "III-V"
semiconductors. NIST provides key technical support that
enables improvements in products and processes.
Metrology
for Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing: Develops and
evaluates methods, tools, and artifacts needed to improve
the state-of-the-art in compound-semiconductor growth and
nanometrology.
Information
Storage
The
density of information stored on magnetic hard disks continues
to increase at a rapid pace, and the characteristic size
of the bits written on such disks shrinks accordingly. We're
exploring new measurement techniques to help the magnetic
storage industry pack more bits in smaller places.
Digital
Data Preservation Program: Works with companies and
others to enable interoperability and reliability of optical
discs, to provide the technical basis for industry standards,
to improve preservation of digital information, and to develop
next-generation data-storage technology.
Magnetic
Technology Division: Disseminates unique measurement
technology for industries concerned with magnetic information
storage and superconductor power. Subjects of current projects
include: magnetic recording measurements, magnetodynamics,
nanoprobe imaging, and magnetic thin films and devices.
Magnetic
Nanostructure: Develops new measurement techniques with
very high sensitivity and spatial resolution to characterize
the fundamental magnetic properties of both recording media
and read/write heads. Contact: Robert
Celotta, (301) 975-3710.
Magnetic
Materials Group: Characterizes the properties and performance
of advanced magnetic and super-conducting materials to promote
their economical processing and efficient use. Operates
the Magnetic Engineering Research Facility, specifically
designed for advancing key enabling technologies in the
field of ultrahigh-density data storage.
ATP
Digital Data Storage Projects: Lists industry-led projects
co-funded by the partnership program.
Displays
Displays
are among the most vital components of information technology
systems, and a variety of technologies are competing for
shares of diversifying markets, from videophones to digital
cinemas.
Flat
Panel Display Metrology: Develops measurement methods
to characterize electronic displays-especially flat panel
displays-as needed for specification and verification of
display quality.
NIST
Rotating-Wheel Based Refreshable Braille Display: Transforms
the text of e-books into the patterns of raised dots used
by sightless persons to read; also can be used for reviewing
e-mail, browsing the World Wide Web and other text-based
applications.
Advanced
Display Characterization: Works to characterize displays
for their ability to serve as the human interface for information
technology systems.
ATP
Project-Image on a Chip Technology: Colorado-based Displaytech
developed a new image-generation technology for thumbnail-sized
high quality displays at low cost.
Photometry
and Colorimetry Facilities: NIST is developing a calibration
facility to address the need for high accuracy color measurements
of displays.
Electronic Data Exchange
As makers
of electronic products outsource more and more tasks to
suppliers, the need for more efficient, problem-free methods
of exchanging information grows.
Infrastructure
for Integrated Electronic Design: Contributes to the
technical development of neutral product data exchange specifications
and other elements of the underlying infrastructure for
sharing component information in the supply chain.
Infrastructure
for Integrated Electronic Manufacturing: This exploratory
project is evaluating obstacles that can deter small manufacturers
of mechanical and electronic components from participating
competitively in virtual enterprises that manufacture printed
circuit assemblies.
Other
Resources
Sampling
of Nanotechnology Programs at NIST
MicroElectroMechanical
Systems: This program researches and develops ultra-small
systems-on-a-chip devices.; It also provides industry with
test structures and test methods to characterize the thermal,
electrical, and mechanical properties of materials and thin
films used in these devices. Contact: Michael
Gaitan, (301) 975-2070.
MicroElectroMechanical
Systems:
This page offers links to NIST people, projects, publications,
and other useful information on MEMS work at NIST. Contact:
Michael Gaitan,
(301) 975-2070.
Micro-Analytical
Laboratory: NIST is working on microfluidic systems
for advanced biochemical sensors. This page offers links
to NIST people, projects, and publications associated with
this effort. Contact: Laurie
Locascio, (301) 975-3130.
Microhotplate
Sensor Research: NIST researchers are investigating
advanced solid state chemical sensors with potential applications
in industry, medicine, environmental control. Contact: Steve
Semancik, (301) 975-2602.
Manufacturing
Extension Partnership: Smaller manufacturers face many
challenges in our technology-driven environment. To help
meet these challenges, the nationwide network of MEP centersstates
has assisted more than 100,000 U.S. firms, including electronics
and semiconductor manufacturers.
Baldrige
National Quality Program: A successful partnership between
business and government, the BNQP recognizes performance
excellence and quality achievement by US manufacturers,
service companies, educational organizations, and health-care
providers. Electronics and semiconductor manufacturers have
been competing for the Baldrige Award since it was established
in 1988. Winners include:
STMicroelectronics,
Inc.--Region Americas, 1999
Solectron
Corporation, 1997 and 1991
Corning
Telecommunications Products Division, 1995
AT&T
Network Systems Group Transmission Systems Business Unit,
1992
Texas
Instruments Incorporated Defense Systems and Electronics
Group, 1992
Zytec
Corporation, 1991
IBM
Rochester -- AS/400 Division, 1990
Motorola
Inc., 1988
Organizations
that apply for the Baldrige Award must address seven key
criteria: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market
focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process
management, and results. Each applicant receives a feedback
report citing strengths and opportunities for improvement.
Award recipients and applicants alike say the application
process can yield significant process improvements and is
good for the bottom line. In fact, a fictitious Baldrige
index made up of winning company stock has consistently
outperformed the Standard & Poor's 500 index. And thousands
of other companies have used the Criteria
for Performance Excellence to assess and improve
their overall performance.
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