Page 17 - Semiconductor For Micro- and Nanotechnology An Introduction For Engineers

Introduction
Chapter
Roadmap In this chapter we first explain the conceptual framework of the book.
Next, we provide some popular definitions that are in use in the field.
Lastly, we indicate some of the sources of information on new inven-
tions.

1.1 The System Concept

This book is about semiconductors. More precisely, it is about semicon-
ductor properties and how to understand them in order to be exploited for
the design and fabrication of a large variety of microsystems. Therefore,
this book is a great deal about silicon as a paradigm for semiconductors.
This of course implies that it is also about other semiconductor systems,
namely for those cases where silicon fails to show the desired effects due
to a lack of the necessary properties or structure. Nevertheless, we will
not venture far away from the paradigmatic material silicon, with its
overwhelming advantage for a wide field of applications with low costs
for fabrication. To quote the Baltes theorem [1.1]:

To prove your idea, put in on silicon.
Since you will need circuitry, make it with CMOS.
If you want to make it useful, get it packaged.

The more expensive fabrication becomes, the less attractive the material
is for the design engineer. Designers must always keep in mind the cost
and resources in energy and personnel that it takes to handle materials
that need additional nonstandard technological treatment. This is not to
say that semiconductors other than silicon are unimportant, and there are
many beautiful applications. But most of today’s engineers encounter sil-
icon CMOS as a process with which to realize their ideas for microscopic
systems. Therefore, most of the emphasis of this book lies in the explana-
tion of the properties and behavior of silicon, or better said, “the semi-
conductor system silicon”.

16 Semiconductors for Micro and Nanosystem Technology