Syllabus For Preliminary Examinations
In Semiconductor Process Technology

Reviewed May 2010

This examination will cover major EE143 and EE243 course topics and their prerequisites, including front-end of the line modules (oxidation, implantation, dopant diffusion), patterning (lithography, etching), thin-film deposition (CVD, PVD), back-end of the line modules (metallization, CMP) and process integration issues. In addition, this examination will address basic experimental design techniques and basic statistical process control principles, as applied in the manufacture of integrated circuits.

Required Reading:

1. Basic IC Processing
   
   All chapters of R.C. Jaeger, "Introduction to Microelectronic Fabrication," Second Edition, Prentice Hall.
   
   
2. In depth discussion on Diffusion, Implantation, Etching, Thin Film, Back-End and Process Integration
   
   Chapters 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 from "Silicon VLSI Technology," Plummer, Deal, and Griffin, First Edition, 2000, Prentice Hall.
   
   
3. In depth discussion on Lithography
   
   Chapter 5 from "Silicon VLSI Technology," Plummer, Deal, and Griffin, First Edition, 2000, Prentice Hall.
   
   Chapter 2, "Microlithography, Science and Technology", Sheats and Smith, First Edition 1998, Marcel and Dekker
   
   
4. Basic Experimental Design and Statistical Process Control
   "Fundamentals of Semiconductor Manufacturing and Process Control," by May and Spanos, Wiley-Interscience, 2006
   4.1.2.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 (Basic statistics with emphasis on normal distributions)
   6.1, 6.2, 6.4.1, 6.4.3 (Univariate SPC)
   7.1 7.2 (Analysis of Variance)
   7.3.1. (2-level Factorials)

NOTE: The following courses may not be used to fulfill the prelim breadth requirement if you take the Semiconductor Processing prelim: EECS 130, 143, 231, 243, 290H