Design considerations for integrated electronic devices

Some fundamental factors affecting the design of integrated electronic devices are discussed, particularly the influence of shrinkage. It is concluded that the considerable advantages of integrated devices compared to conventional devices, such as very small volume and weight, and reduced number of metallic connections, has to be paid for by higher shrinkage in fabrication. The resulting increase in cost may be made very small if the design of the integrated device allows the extent of integration to be adjusted to the shrinkage rate. Two considerations are advanced to reduce partially this higher shrinkage. One is that the resultant high cost of the integrated device justifies a higher investment in the fabrication process of the integrated device than for the individual units. The other is that methods of doctoring integrated devices may be effectively used to reduce the shrinkage.