Evaluation of technology options for LSI processing elements

A general overview of the semiconductor technologies available for the manufacture of microprocessor and bit slices is given. Both MOS as well as bipolar processes are covered. Advantages and disadvantages of PMOS, NMOS, CMOS, TTL, ECL, and I²L are discussed. Several of the more special-purpose technologies are briefly mentioned. A comparison is done on the basis of performance, cost, and application, and suggestions are made as to which technology will service best which application. A general prediction is made as to which processes will survive as main stream technologies and what developments can be expected in the near future with respect to improvements. Applications are separated into cost-sensitive low-chip-count areas and high-performance bit-slice-oriented approaches.