ABSTRACT
Semiconductor integrated circuits and discrete devices act as the brains for advanced electronic controls and devices, and are ubiquitous in consumer and industrial applications. Personal computers, for example, contain several different types of semiconductor devices, and these devices are also found in vehicles, appliances, telecommunications equipment, and building and industrial processes. The services and applications enabled by semiconductors enhance and enrich all of our lives. There are many types of semiconductors, with varying complexity and design features. Depending on the type and performance features, semiconductors
can have enormous influence on the functionality, reliability, access time, power consumption, and cost of products.
