Semi-Conductor Laboratory
Encyclopedia
The Semi-Conductor Laboratory, Chandigarh
, (SCL) is a research institute of the Department of Space
, Government of India
. Its aims include research and development in the field of Semiconductor
technology.
SCL had its origin as the Semiconductor Complex Limited, a public sector undertaking of the Government of India
. It came under the administrative control of Department of Space
in March 2005 and has since undergone organisational restructuring to become focussed on research and development
. The society, named Semi-Conductor Laboratory, was registered in November, 2005.
The Semi-Conductor Laboratory is responsible for design and development of VLSI
devices and development of systems for telecommunication
and space sectors. SCL has facilities for fabrication of micro-electronic devices in 0.8 micrometre
range and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems
. Facilities to fabricate advanced devices in 0.35 micrometre range are planned.
won a competition with another US-based firm, Atmel Corp., to handle a nearly Rs 5,000,000,000 contract to upgrade Semi-Conductor Laboratory. IBM backed out of the deal in 2008 citing concerns of dual-use technologies. DoS planned to upgrade the fab on its own after IBM backed out of the deal. As of 2010, SCL is undergoing an upgrade to produce chips of 0.18 micrometres from Tower Semiconductor Limited, Israel.
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
, (SCL) is a research institute of the Department of Space
Department of Space
The Department of Space is an Indian government department responsible for administration of the Indian space program.The Indian Space Research Organization is the primary research and development arm of the DoS...
, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. Its aims include research and development in the field of Semiconductor
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
technology.
SCL had its origin as the Semiconductor Complex Limited, a public sector undertaking of the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. It came under the administrative control of Department of Space
Department of Space
The Department of Space is an Indian government department responsible for administration of the Indian space program.The Indian Space Research Organization is the primary research and development arm of the DoS...
in March 2005 and has since undergone organisational restructuring to become focussed on research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
. The society, named Semi-Conductor Laboratory, was registered in November, 2005.
The Semi-Conductor Laboratory is responsible for design and development of VLSI
Very-large-scale integration
Very-large-scale integration is the process of creating integrated circuits by combining thousands of transistors into a single chip. VLSI began in the 1970s when complex semiconductor and communication technologies were being developed. The microprocessor is a VLSI device.The first semiconductor...
devices and development of systems for telecommunication
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
and space sectors. SCL has facilities for fabrication of micro-electronic devices in 0.8 micrometre
Micrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
range and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems
Microelectromechanical systems
Microelectromechanical systems is the technology of very small mechanical devices driven by electricity; it merges at the nano-scale into nanoelectromechanical systems and nanotechnology...
. Facilities to fabricate advanced devices in 0.35 micrometre range are planned.
Fab upgrade
The Department of Space (DoS) planned to upgrade SCL to produce chips of 0.25 micrometer size from the current 0.8 micrometres. In 2006, IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
won a competition with another US-based firm, Atmel Corp., to handle a nearly Rs 5,000,000,000 contract to upgrade Semi-Conductor Laboratory. IBM backed out of the deal in 2008 citing concerns of dual-use technologies. DoS planned to upgrade the fab on its own after IBM backed out of the deal. As of 2010, SCL is undergoing an upgrade to produce chips of 0.18 micrometres from Tower Semiconductor Limited, Israel.