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ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (set-top box).
Analog
Analog circuits can handle input and output signals that can
take any value between appropriate upper and lower limits. A
typical application is the reception of a signal from a microphone
and its amplification and output to a loudspeaker. The real
world functions on an analog basis. Therefore, even though digital
electronics are becoming increasingly widespread, many systems
still have to be analog to interface with the human end-user.
A signal that varies in amplitude continuously and without interruption.
Also called linear. Contrast with digital.
Back-end
In the semiconductor industry, back-end is the second phase
of manufacturing when the silicon chip is assembled in a protective
package, followed by testing, finishing and packing. The package
protects the chip and also provides external connections via
a series of very fine wires.
Bipolar
A type of transistor where a flow of both conduction electrons
and holes determines the device characteristics.
A transistor noted for its speed; it contains an emitter, collector
and base.
Chip
A component made from a silicon wafer without any connectors.
Common term for a semiconductor device.
CMOS
Complementary MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor). A process used
to design and fabricate both NMOS (a MOS transistor that has
negative-electron-flow) and PMOS (a MOS transistor which has
positive-hole-flow) transistors on one substrate. Noted for
having low power consumption.
Discrete component
Semiconductor devices that perform a single elementary electronic
function.
DRAM
Dynamic Random Access Memory. A type of volatile memory in which
the presence or absence of a capacitive charge represents the
state (0 or 1) of a binary storage element. The charge must
be periodically refreshed.
Flash
Flash memories combine the high density and cost effectiveness
of EPROM memories (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) with
the electrical erasability of EEPROMs (Electrically Erasable
Programmable Read Only Memory). Today, the Flash memory market
is one of the most exciting areas in the semiconductor industry.
Flash memories are ideal for a broad spectrum of applications
requiring in-system reprogramming such as cell phones, automotive
engine management systems, PC cards, PC BIOS software, fax and
other modems, digital TV set-top boxes, multimedia CD-ROMs,
among others.
Front-end
Front-end is the first phase of the semiconductor production
cycle where circuits are manufactured on a silicon wafer, followed
by wafer testing and the back-end process.
GPRS
General Packet Radio Service for the next generation of mobile
handsets and mobile Internet devices.
GSM
Global System for Mobile communications. The European standard
for cellular mobile phones.
Integrated Circuit
A tiny device that can perform various electronic functions.
ICs are made from semiconductor material and work according
to semiconductor physics. ICs are classed as small, medium,
large or very large scale integration (SSI, MSI, LSI, VLSI)
and may contain anything from just a few transistors (plus diodes,
resistors and capacitors necessary to complete the circuit),
to millions of transistors on the same chip.
IPAD
The combination of silicon active discrete elements with passive
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MEMS
(Micro-Electro-Mechanical System)
MEMS devices can use electrostatic techniques to convert an
applied voltage into physical movement. The electrostatic method
is particularly suitable for hard disk drive applications as
it does not involve generating electromagnetic fields near the
disk surface.
Microcontroller
An integrated circuit combining a microprocessor with peripheral
functions such as memories, timers and converters.
Micron
A thousandth of a millimeter - about one tenth the thickness
of a human hair. Also written as 'µ' or 'µm'.
MPEG (Motion Pictures Experts Group)
An international standards committee comprising the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Comité
Consultative International Télégraphique et Téléphonique
(CCITT), representatives of electronics companies, such as ST,
and broadcasting organizations. It defines standards for the
"compression" of digital video signals for consumer
products and computers.
Non-volatile Memory
A term used to describe memories that retain their data if the
power supply is turned off.
PowerMesh™
PowerMESH is a proprietary ST technology that replaces the traditional
Power MOSFET cell geometry by a strip layout for the transistors
on the chip. This reduces on-resistance by more than 20% and
improves the dynamic performance due to a significant reduction
of the drain-gate capacitance. It also increases manufacturability
by eliminating a critical mask alignment stage.
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with an electrical conductivity
between that of a conductor and that of an insulator. Semiconductors
can be single elements such as silicon or germanium or compounds
such as gallium arsenide or indium phosphide. In everyday usage,
the term more frequently refers to components manufactured from
semiconductor materials.
Silicon Germanium (SiGe)
Semiconductor IV-IV alloy used as a thick layer to improve device
performances.
Smartcard
Smartcards are plastic cards the size of a credit card, which
interface to network terminal devices. They are used for a variety
of purposes including banking and personal identification applications.
Smartcards have an embedded IC which usually includes programmable
memory and/or a microprocessor. Security is the most important
issue in the use of smartcards and data encryption features
protect the card from invalid use.
STripFET
Devices that utilize a single feature size process based on
ST's patented strip layout technique that needs fewer process
steps. Its only critical parameter is the width of the strip,
which depends solely on the equipment resolution.
System-on-Chip
Advanced semiconductor manufacturing techniques result in silicon
chips with millions of transistors available, which makes it
possible to put different types of functions on the same chip.
So a complete system, including microprocessors, memory, analog
and power, can be built to put the system on a single chip.
VIPower®
VIPower is a family of proprietary ST technologies in which
discrete power structures are integrated with analog and digital
control and diagnostic circuitry, resulting in a device that
combines the robustness of discrete technology with integrated
control and diagnostic circuitry.
Wafer
A wafer of silicon sliced from a 4, 5, 6, 8 or 12-inch diameter
silicon bar (2.54cm = 1 inch), which is used as the foundation
on which to build semiconductor products. |
