Semiconductor Overview
Semiconductors are one of the most essential products of modern living, but they are confusing to many. It doesn’t help that they are hidden inside electronic devices and go by many different names (microprocessors, CPUs, chips, chipsets, integrated circuits, GPUs, microcontrollers, and system on a chip). Semiconductors are tiny electronic circuits made up of materials that partially conduct electricity. They are the brains for millions of electronic devices, such as personal computers (PCs), smartphones, appliances, weapons systems, TVs, car infotainment systems, medical and industrial equipment, and data center servers. The semiconductor industry comprises pure-play foundries, chip designers, and integrated design manufacturers based in the U.S., Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and China. The leading players in selected markets are (a) Qualcomm in chipsets for mobile devices, (b) Intel Corporation and AMD in processors for PCs, (c) NVIDIA in graphics processors for gaming and video streaming on PCs, and (d) Infineon Technologies in chips for car electronic systems.