22 Jul
2007
22 Jul
'07
4:52 p.m.
I just read an recent article in eetimes that the
target life of new ICs
is 10 years. This is due to metal migration and other (i can't remember
) effects that sub-micron processes exhibit.
This is not really that big of news. When I have asked some chip guys
I know, they have all said the same thing - all ICs will eventually
fail due to migrations. As the geometries shrink, the lifetimes
shorten. Even with the older chips with relatively large geometries,
time is ticking away. 100 year old working ICs may never exist.
But then, tubes are in the same boat. They will all go gassy eventually...
I guess you should hang on
to all the old gear you can get, because everything built today will be
land-fill in 10 years.
Recycle!
--
Will