Microchips are found in just about every product we use on a daily basis, including our automobiles and television sets. They are made of highly conducive material that allows a device to transfer an electrical current. All circuits are made up of electrical components arranged to direct the flow of tasks and information to the necessary components. The process of making them involves some highly technical science, and a thin film vacuum coating that work on a molecular level.
Vacuum Technology
The chip itself is known as “the substrate” during the manufacturing process. This broad term describes anything that will receive the materials that will be melted down, so it could be a chip or lenses for a pair of eye glasses. The substrate is placed into a vacuum deposition system, in which the chamber is vacuum sealed and heated to high temperatures. Once the temperature is right, materials are inserted into the chamber. The heat allows them to break down into molecules, and when the chamber is cooled, those molecules bounce around and eventually settle on the chip.
Conductive Materials
Silicon crystals are the most prevalent materials found in a microchip or a microprocessor. This material has a 4 valence electron shell, which gives the substance the ability to add or subtract electrons within moments. Selenium and tellurium are also used because they have a high resistance to temperature. Inside of a computer, for instance, these materials would protect the circuitry as the motherboard and other components heat up.
Design and Process
The chip must be laid out according to very specific designs. The first step is known as photolithography, where a machine is used to create the blue print of the chip’s layout on the chip itself. Often, different colored materials are used to mark how the circuits will be laid out. The process occurs at a microscopic level, so engineers often “debug” hardware issues with the help of an electron microscope. The device is then tested and packaged in an anti-static material.
Final Thoughts
A microchip is engineered to resist heat, but the final product is still quite fragile. Chips must be housed away from major heat sources, and special care must be taken when handling them during transport. Chips also bear insignias from the manufacturer, which allows repair people to figure out important data about the chip for repair. Still, the nature of the circuit is changing as we discover more about the enigmatic field of quantum physics.
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