Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/424967
18 SMT Magazine • December 2014 hurdles, the packages with 0.3 mm pitch BGA architecture will be entering into the main- stream. To maximize the yield and reduce cost, PCBs' thermal stability, under the high manu- facturing temperature imposed by the assembly process, continues to be the most critical perfor- mance parameter. Although a PCB possessing a higher glass transition temperature (T g ) is read- ily available, T g , per se, does not represent the PCB's heat tolerance ability. Other properties, such as mechanical properties, thermal decom- position temperature, thermal expansion over a temperature range, out-of-plane and in-plane thermal expansion and moisture absorption all contribute to the overall performance (i.e., in- ternal structure integrity)." What Happened in 2014: On technological innovations, both "big ideas" and "incremental advances" have hap- pened in 2014. Prominent among them are the plans of two leading companies. IBM an- nounced that it pledged to spend $3 billion over five years on semiconductor research to- ward two major tasks—tackling technical ob- stacles to the miniaturization of circuitry on conventional silicon chips, and developing alternative materials and technology to keep boosting computing speed while consuming less energy. The latter includes replacing silicon with graphene—a thin film of pure carbon or structure called nanotubes. Other research in- cludes neurosynaptic computing—a departure from the conventional computer designs that is expected to work more like a human brain and quantum computing. The ultimate goal is to overcome obstacles to shrink circuitry to seven nanometers. In response to market demands, Intel is in- corporating more advanced technology into tablets and smartphones. To pack more com- puting capability into a smaller space, a new manufacturing process that creates chips with circuitry measuring 14 nm is rapidly improving yields. Intel plans to advance two generations of chip production process, which are expected to reduce circuit dimensions to seven nanome- ters. Intel opened up its fab factories to outside business, serving as foundries. Panasonic, as one of Intel's customers, will make SoCs in a low-power flavor of Intel's 14 nm process tech- nology. In looking at electronic hardware, this year's story cannot be complete without mentioning the unprecedented and unparalleled perfor- mance of F-22. F-22 made its combat debut in September 2014. The all-weather stealth tactical fighter jet developed for the U.S. Air Force offers air superi- ority, ground attack, electronic warfare and sig- nal intelligence. A headline that ran in the Wall Street Journal, September 24, 2014: "F-22 Flies its First Combat Mission" excited and energized me immensely. The Pentagon's most advanced fighter plane made its combat debut in the U.S.- led strikes on Syria serving a crucial mission that depends on stealth. The fulfilment of this insurmountable (at least currently) technology is incumbent upon the advanced electronics and sensor technology. Our industry plays a crucial part in the technology and I have, in a tiny part, contributed to establishing one of the many electronic parts. Personally and profes- sionally (perhaps with some bias), I view this as the technology of the decade that truly shows force and power—an epitome of the beauty and brain combo! SOLAr vOLTAIc mArKeT ANd TecHNOLOGY From January 2014 Outlook: "The painstaking rebalancing, consolidation and shakeout are ending. All signposts indicate that 2014 is looking brighter throughout the so- lar industry and the "healthy" companies that have served the solar sector during the boom and bust times will win big and the sustainers will be handsomely rewarded. Companies that have a solid strategy and have thus survived the last two-year "massacre" have raised their ship- ment guidance. Overall, 2014 will be a rebounding year, with the explanation below. In 2014, the global end-use market will be growing or stabilizing— U.S., China and the rest of Asia-Pacific will grow and Europe will be stabilizing. Japan's lucrative feed-in tariff scheme will accelerate its solar deployment. Solar global GW installation will 2014: YeAr-eNd revIeW continues SMT proSpECTS & pErSpECTivES