This is a rare and nice overview book on the VLSI design by Liming Xiu:
VLSI Circuit Design Methodology Demystified: A Conceptual Taxonomy:
https://www.wiley.com/en-us/VLSI+Circuit+Design+Methodology+...
Ask HN: What books are recommended to learn the semiconductor industry?
31–38 of 38 posts
Re: Ask HN: What books are recommended to learn the semiconductor industry?
#32Publicly-traded Semiconductor companies like Intel and AMD publish reports to investors, so that might be a small but effective resource.
Re: Ask HN: What books are recommended to learn the semiconductor industry?
#33You could try checking this out. Seems like a good starting point. The videos are very detailed. https://youtube.com/c/Asianometry
Thanks for the rec. I also recommend Ian Cutress of TechTechPotato. https://www.youtube.com/c/TechTechPotato
Re: Ask HN: What books are recommended to learn the semiconductor industry?
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
In Taiwan you have to learn english to get a phd. Additionally, you should know Taiwan sources many parts of the production process from technologies in other countries. For example ASML is the company that actually makes the EUV machines that etch the patterns onto the silicon, and that company is Dutch. In addition to that the lenses used in the EUV machines are custom made from Carl Zeiss, a German company. Both o…
It doesn't change the fact that none of this information on how TSMC, etc. actually produce at scale is written anywhere in english (or even in a book). These are intensely guarded trade secrets and you're going to need to start working with and around these companies to even begin to comprehend how what they do is possible.
TSMC is also opening a fab in the united states. Arizona. Look it up.
Don't dismiss the photo-lithography machines from ASML. The technology involved in the creation of those machines rivals TSMC itself. ASML gets less press but it is indeed as critical if not more critical in the supply chain than TSMC.
TSMC can be overtaken by samsung or intel... the possibility exists. No one, however is even close to being able to replicate the EUV machines created by ASML.
Re: Ask HN: What books are recommended to learn the semiconductor industry?
#351) Microprocessor Design: A Practical Guide from Design Planning to Manufacturing by Grant McFarland.
2) Chip Design for Non-Designers: An Introduction by Juan-Antonio Carballo.
3) Demystifying Chipmaking by Ricahrd F. Yanda et al..
4) Fabless: The Transformation of the Semiconductor Industry by Daniel Nenni et al.
Re: Ask HN: What books are recommended to learn the semiconductor industry?
#36Define "learn semiconductors industry"... I mean, you might say "I want to learn medicine" and people would take that many ways. I studied EECE (electrical and computer engineering) in my BS, then Physics, and my Ph.D. is in Computer Engineering, minor in CS, but very specifically on VLSI and chip-making in the graduate school. I am saying this just to note: When you say "semiconductors industry" my immediate thought…
Don't forget the historical aspects either! VLSI is hugely important, but how did we get here? Who were the Traitorous Eight and how did they get that name? The high level is available on Wikipedia but for the real story you need up dig up an actual history book.
What does the semiconductor landscape look like right now? Who is TSMC, who is ARM? Learning VLSI isn't going to teach you the ins and outs of the industry either.
Re: Ask HN: What books are recommended to learn the semiconductor industry?
#37Define "learn semiconductors industry"... I mean, you might say "I want to learn medicine" and people would take that many ways. I studied EECE (electrical and computer engineering) in my BS, then Physics, and my Ph.D. is in Computer Engineering, minor in CS, but very specifically on VLSI and chip-making in the graduate school. I am saying this just to note: When you say "semiconductors industry" my immediate thought…
Yeah, semiconductor industry could also mean: material sciences, quantum physics, chemistry, EDA tools, or even management.
Shoot, even international relations, e.g. doing business with Taiwan & China, cars and chip shortages, etc.
Re: Ask HN: What books are recommended to learn the semiconductor industry?
#38Hard to answer this question well without a little bit of additional context. I'm very focused on the software side of things, so I am mostly familiar with resources that tackle how software interacts with various platforms and architectures. I can recommend some resources in that vein (maybe they'll be useful if you/the reader have a software background): The most frequently recommended book from a software perspect…
[deleted]