How a computer chip is made
Process map by Brian. 17 steps, 2 layers. Tags: tech, science, geopolitics.
- Silicon: Sand becomes ultra-pure silicon
- The factory (fab): Grow a crystal and slice it into wafers
- The factory (fab): Coat the wafer with a light-sensitive layer
- Lithography machine: Print a pattern with light
- The factory (fab): Etch away the exposed parts
- The factory (fab): Add or implant materials to build one layer
- The factory (fab): Are all the dozens of layers done?
- The factory (fab): Test thousands of chips on each wafer
- The factory (fab): Does a chip pass?
- Packaging: Cut up the wafer and package each chip
- Your device: It ends up in a phone or a data center
- The factory (fab): Discard it