‘High-rise’ chips sneak on market

July 15, 2004 | Source: CNET News.com

“High-rise” three-dimensional semiconductors have quietly started making their way into consumer products.

Matrix Semiconductor is now selling its 3D memory/data storage chips, initially for use in storing pre-recorded content like games or songs.

In the company’s memory chips, planes of transistors can be stacked, which reduces the surface area of the chip and allows more chips to be produced from a single wafer. Ideally, manufacturers get the cost savings associated with shrinking transistors without having to invest in new lithography equipment.