It's probably been a while since you've cracked an engineering tome (and I'm not necessarily speaking of our publisher, Gene Selven). In fact, I have a feeling that a number of my colleagues last reviewed semiconductor theory when it was printed on papyrus scrolls. Accordingly, I will spend my 600 words this issue talking mostly about books. Worthy Pursuits Certainly most of us know a few people who mistakenly strayed from the semiconductor industry for a year or two to devote themselves to equally worthy pursuits, such as nation building or feta cheese production. Then disillusionment with their new life set in. And they finally realized that the chip-making industry had the answers all the time. Back they came and they're lost! That's how quickly knowledge moves in this industry. So if you're absent for two years, it's like decades away from most other pursuits. Public Service That's why I feel that I'm performing a public service for readers by recommending The Complete Guide to Semiconductor Devices (Second Edition), by Dr. K.K. Ng. Dr. Ng earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Columbia University. Since 1980, he's been a technical manager with Agere Systems (formerly Bell Labs), in Murray Hill, N.J. (The book is published by Wiley Interscience [wiley.com], and is available wherever books of this ilk are sold). The author is no slouch when it comes to technical publishing either. He's been editor of IEEE Electron Device Letters and a liaison to the IEEE Press, so it's a pretty good bet he knows what he's talking about. Now, I don't know Dr. Ng personally, nor do I get any money for mentioning this book or any other. (I did get the book free to review, though!) I suspect that Dr. Ng covers just about anything you'd care to know about semiconductors within its 700+ pages. This new edition, which follows the first by eight years, is a testament to the endurance of the earlier work. From here, I'm going to segue into another book, a very different and unique one. It's Who's Who in Semiconductors, 1st Edition [whoswhosemiconductors.com], Lightpoint Group Ltd. In this case, however, I do know the editor-in-chief and the publisher. They reside in the persona of Craig Addison. Craig was the former editor of Electronic Business Asia. Unique Publication It's unique because it's the first compilation of the movers and shakers that make the semiconductor industry unlike all others. Craig has provided a first-class printing job in a book fit for your finest coffee table or library. In its oversized pages, Craig has profiled hundreds of the key industry players in all geographic and business segments. You'll find my name listed inside as a member of the editorial advisory board for IC packaging, but Craig deserves the plaudits for a groundbreaking publication.
Changes One of the true gentlemen of the IC packaging industry has called it quits (at least on a full-time basis). Dr. Gerald K. "Skip" Fehr, a co-founder and the CTO of IPAC, San Jose (now OSE-USA), has retired. Prior to co-founding IPAC, Skip spent many years as the plastic packaging guru at chipmaker LSI Logic in Milpitas, Calif. Before that, he wore badge number 12 at Intel! Skip, an Iowa native, plans to remain in the Bay Area (that's Silicon Valley to you out-of-towners). In addition to some consulting work, Skip plans to move his golf game into high gear. Contact him at fehrway@sbcglobal.net.
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