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| Consumer and Electronic
Products -> Semiconductor Chips |
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Copper is used in a new generation of higher performance microprocessors
that are smaller, lighter, and require less power. The use of copper
in new microchips gives a performance gain of 30% and permits miniaturization
of current channel lengths to 0.12 microns, allowing up to 200 million
transistors to be packed into a single chip.
IBM, Motorola and Intel are replacing aluminum with copper in the
computer chips they manufacture. Because of copper's superior electrical
conductivity, this breakthrough technology will enable conductor channel
lengths and widths to be significantly reduced.
The result is much faster operating speeds and greater circuit integration.
Up to 200 million transistors can be packed onto a single chip. Power
requirements can now reduced to a modest 1.8 volts, and the chips
can run cooler than ever before.
The use of copper conductors in the chip is the last link in a now
unbroken copper chain comprising the electronic data path between
the user and the computer. From external cables and connectors to
bus ways to printed circuit boards, sockets, and leadframes, it's
all copper! |
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