Impact of Advanced Material Processing Techniques on Spread Spectrum Systems Technology

Many organizations that are involved in driving military communications components and system technologies to higher levels of performance and integration must be aware of the impacts these technologies will have on manufacturing, technology transfer delays, yield, cost and manpower. Advanced material processing techniques can provide the degree of structural control to produce devices and semiconductor chips with a variety of performance capabilities far exceeding conventional performance levels. However, the yield and cost reductions associated with some of these advanced material processing techniques may not be at the same level as those associated with more conventional processing methods utilized in the fabrication of conventional devices and semiconductor chips. Also, some of the advanced processing techniques may be quite difficult to implement and automate in a manufacturing environment.