Articles tagged with "semiconductor"
US labs build low-cost gallium nitride chips for next-gen radars
Researchers at MIT and partner institutions have developed a novel, low-cost fabrication process that integrates high-performance gallium nitride (GaN) transistors onto standard silicon CMOS chips. This breakthrough addresses previous challenges related to GaN’s high cost and specialized integration needs by using a scalable method compatible with existing semiconductor manufacturing. The process involves creating many tiny GaN transistor "dielets," which are bonded onto silicon chips using a low-temperature copper-to-copper bonding technique. This approach maintains material functionality, reduces system temperature, and significantly enhances performance while keeping costs low. The team demonstrated the effectiveness of this hybrid chip technology by building a power amplifier that outperformed traditional silicon-based devices in signal strength and efficiency, indicating potential improvements in wireless communication such as better call quality, increased bandwidth, and longer battery life. The integration method avoids expensive materials and high temperatures, making it compatible with standard semiconductor foundries and promising broad applicability in commercial electronics. Additionally, the researchers suggest that this technology could support quantum computing applications due to
materialsgallium-nitridesemiconductorCMOSchip-fabricationpower-electronicsradar-systemsChina’s AI system builds Intel-class chips with zero US software
China has developed an AI-powered chip design system called QiMeng, created by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and affiliated institutions, to accelerate semiconductor development and reduce reliance on Western software amid escalating US-China tech tensions. QiMeng uses large language models to automate complex chip design tasks, significantly shortening development times—for example, producing an autonomous-driving chip in days instead of weeks. The platform is structured in three layers, integrating processor models, design agents, and chip design applications to support automated front-end design, hardware description language generation, OS configuration, and compiler toolchain creation. Researchers have already built two processors with QiMeng: QiMeng-CPU-v1, comparable to Intel’s 486, and QiMeng-CPU-v2, similar to Arm’s Cortex A53. The launch of QiMeng directly responds to US export restrictions that limit Chinese access to leading electronic design automation (EDA) software from companies like Synopsys, Cadence, and Siemens EDA, which previously dominated China’s EDA market. By open-sourcing QiMeng and publishing detailed documentation, China aims to improve design efficiency, reduce costs, and enable rapid customization of chip architectures and software stacks. While China still faces challenges in fabrication technology and ecosystem diversity, QiMeng represents a strategic step toward automating the full chip design and verification process and advancing China’s broader goal of semiconductor self-reliance in the face of ongoing geopolitical pressures.
AIsemiconductorchip-designprocessorautomationtechnology-independenceChinese-Academy-of-SciencesAMD acqui-hires the employees behind Untether AI
energyAIsemiconductoracquisitionefficiencyroboticstechnologyBreakthrough: Scientists spot hidden quantum states after 60-year hunt
materialsquantum-statessuperconductorssemiconductorenergy-scalesnanowiresvortex-statesNew silicone glows in vibrant colors while conducting electricity
materialssemiconductorelectrical-conductivityflexible-electronicssiliconecopolymerinnovative-materialsWorld's smallest atomic-scale semiconductor produces solar hydrogen
semiconductorsolar-hydrogenphotocatalystquantum-materialsenergy-solutionsnanotechnologysustainable-energyNew DirectDrive plasma etching tech to help build ultra-precise chips
materialssemiconductorplasma-etchingchip-manufacturingprecision-technologyelectronicsRF-energyThe Future of Manufacturing Might Be in Space
materialsmanufacturingspace-technologycrystal-growthsemiconductorin-space-manufacturingaerospacePhân tử mới có thể cách mạng hóa ngành sản xuất chip
materialssemiconductororganic-moleculeselectrical-conductivitychip-productionnanotechnologyenergy-efficiencyHuawei aims to take on Nvidia’s H100 with new AI chip
HuaweiAI-chipNvidiaAscend-910DsemiconductortechnologyChina