Semiconductor Glossary - M
8" fab in Catania. It is the third 8" fab built by ST.
1) Maximum Allowable Concentration
2) Media Access Control
Type of LAN switch output (20 Mbps).
3) Multiplexed Analog Components
TV application
4) Apple Macintosh
Multi-chip package
Maximum Achievable Control Technology
Modem Analog Front-End
Integrated circuit which includes all of the analog functions needed to build a modem circuit. These functions include A/D and D/A converters, filters...
Computer that replies automatically to e:Mail messages, returning information to anyone who sends a message to the mail reflector address. In some cases the reflector expects an empty message and sends the same reply to everyone. In others the sender must include certain key words in the message subject. In this case the response depends on the key words.
The mobile charge that predominates in a semiconductor material. Electrons in N-type material and holes in P-type material.
The approach to internal marketing research in which a specialist is assigned to contact those departments which are significantly impacted by a project undergoing planning. Also, visiting each customer to secure input for planning purposes.
Island in the Mediterranean sea where ST Kirkop assembly plant is located.
Profit remaining after deducting from sales the cost of manufacturing products (F/E + B/E + shipping costs).
Difference between the actual cost of manufacturing a product and its WWS (Worldwide Standard value).
Mold Array Process
Microsoft Mail Application Programmer Interface MDN Message Disposition Notification
Small town west of London, England. Location of the headquarters of ST's North Europe commercial organization and a local design center.
In semiconductor manufacturing, many wafer processing steps use photolithography. The photographic "negatives" for these steps are called masks.
In semiconductor technology, a pattern of opaque images to mask out selected areas on silicon slices so subsequent etchings or diffusions will affect only selected areas.
Department where masks are made from the pattern generation tapes.
A device that uses bursts of laser energy to vaporize and remove unwanted opaque areas or spots on a photomask or reticle.
A quantitative accounting of the distribution of chemical in plant components, support medium, and test solutions. It also means a quantitative determination of uptake as the difference between the quantity of materials entering a process/site, the quantity leaving the process/site, and the quantity adsorbed to the process/site.
A gauge consisting of a mass flow meter, an electronic controller and a valve that can control the rate of flow of a gas.
Original photomask generated by a step-and-repeat camera or e-beam system, used to print submasters or working plates.
MATurity (code)
Maximum Acceptable Toxicant Concentration
The status of a product or a technology. The life cycle of all products and technologies is governed by a procedure which defines different levels of maturity for various phases in the cycle.
MAXimum
MAXium 220 pkg
The index which comprises the 30 leading stocks on the Milan Stock Exchange, based upon market capitalization and liquidity.
Methylene-Blue-Active Substances
Micro Ball Grid Array
Very small Ball Grid Array from Tessera
Trademarked name often (wrongly) used generically.
Megabit
The Malcom Baldridge National Quality Award
Annual Award to recognize companies that excel in Quality Management and Quality Achievement (USA). ST Americas won the Malcom Baldrige in 1999.
Management By Objectives
Million Bytes Per Second
Management By Walking Around
Micro Channel Architecture
Open bus for midrange computers.
Mean Cycles Between Failures
Obtained by dividing Mean Time Between Failures by the length of time required to complete one operating cycle.
1) Multivariate Control Chartse
2) Multichannel Memory Controller
Minimum Cost Digital Camera
Methyl chloroform
Maximum Contaminant Level
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
Multi-Chip Module
MicroController Unit
Modulated Continuous Wave
Mini Disk
Multiplying Digital to Analog Converter
Manufacturing Document Control System
MPEG Developers Kit
Method Detection Limit
Market Driven Quality
1)Microprocessor Development System
2)Modulation Diodes Schottky
Modulation Diodes/rectifiers
Motorola Emitter Coupled Logic
The percentage of parts which are good after the packaging operations. This is normally close to 100% because there is a small loss caused by faulty assembly.
Micro Electronic Development for European Applications (the continuation of JESSI)
Plural of the word "media".
A term used in the environmental field to describe the various "compartments" into which the natural world can be divided. The major media are: air, water, soil and biota. These in turn can be subdivided: air into the various compartments of the atmosphere, water into surface waters (which can be further sub-divided into fresh waters and saline waters) and groundwater, biota into plants and animals.
A prefix meaning a multiple of one million.
Most Exposed Individual
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Cancer of the skin.
It is associated with overexposure to the shorter wavelengths of UV present in sunlight, generally screened out by the ozone layer. In this form, it normally occurs on those parts of the body which are most exposed to sunlight. Another form of melanoma skin cancer occurs on parts of the body which are generally never exposed to sunlight.
Micro Mechanical Machining
Micro-Electro-Mechanical System
MEMS devices can use electrostatic techniques to convert an applied voltage into physical movement. The electrostatic method is particularly suitable for hard disk drive applications as it does not involve generation electromagnetic fields near the disk surface.
A general term for computer hardware that holds infon-nation in electrical or magnetic form.
Medium Earth Orbit
Satellite that is 5 to 10 Kmiles above Earth (Geostat=23 Kmiles)
Motion Estimation Processor
Milliequivalents per liter
One of a group of metallic elements classified as heavy metals. Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at room temperature. Unlike most other metals, mercury tends to form covalent bonds with other inorganic materials as well as organic compounds. Elemental (metallic), inorganic (ionic), and organic forms of the mercury are released into the environment through natural and anthropogenic sources. The latter include mining, smelting, and industrial discharges. The burning of coal and the refining of petroleum continue to be important sources. Once released into the environment, the element can undergo many transformations and conversions among the three major forms given above. The most common human exposures to elemental mercury are by the inhalation of vapor. The element is rapidly absorbed and distributed by the circulatory system. Absorption of mercury from the gastrointestinal tract is very limited for elemental mercury but very high for organic forms of the element. Mercury is excreted slowly from the body, with about one-half of an absorbed dose being lost in 30 to 90 days. That part of the human body most sensitive to mercury poisoning is the central nervous system.
Manufacturing Execution System
The system for execution management.
Metal Schottky FET
A field effect transistor whose gate structure consists of a metallic Schottky barrier.
MOS devices with a metal layer deposited to form the gate elements.
A layer of aluminum or, in some cases, copper, used to connect all the transistors of a silicon chip together. As chips become more and more complex, the number of layers needed increases so the chip can be made as small as possible.
The photomask used to define the metal interconnects in an IC.
Metallization is the process of depositing a thin film of metal and patterning it to form the desired interconnection arrangement.
Methylene chloride
A gaseous hydrocarbon that is the main component of natural gas; the molecule contains a single carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. It is highly explosive. It is plentiful in nature, where huge fields of natural gas exist, either together with or separate from crude oil deposits. It is also often present wherever anaerobic decomposition of organic material occurs. In this respect, it is a primary component of "marsh gas", which is generated in the mud of marsh-lands. This is also the reason for its presence in biogas, of which it is an important component. Methane is considered a greenhouse gas and plays a part in the depletion of stratospheric ozone.
Macro Family
Mass Flow Controller
Manufacturing
Millions of FLoating point Operations Per Second
Modified Frequency Modulation
1) Monitor Flat Panel
2)MultiFunction Printer
MultiFunction Timer
milligram
milligram per kilogram
milligrams per liter
Montgomeryville
ST site in Pennsylvania, USA.
Multimedia Home Platform
MegaHertz
Methyl isobutyl ketone
Microwave Integrated Circuit
A microprocessor complete with stored program memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and input/output (1/0) logic. Microcomputers are capable of performing useful work without additional supporting logic. If all functions are on the same chip, this is sometimes called a microcontroller.
A microcontroller is an integrated circuit that combines a microprocessor with other peripheral functions, such as memories, timers and converters.
One-millionth of a meter. About 40 millionths of an inch. Synonymous with micron.
A thousandth of a millimeter - about one tenth the thickness of a human hair.
microgram
microgram per kilogram
microgram per liter
micrograms per cubic meter
microliter
micrometer
A microprocessor is a hardware device that can be electrically "rewired" by using different software instruction. It is considered the brain of a computer or circuit.
Manufacturing Integration Demand & Availability Systems
The communication link between planning and execution systems.
Music Instrument Digital Interface
One-thousandth of an inch. Equal to 25.4 microns.
A set of three integers used to define a set of parallel planes. The integers are derived from the coordinate system of the basic vectors.
A prefix meaning one-thousandth.
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions
MINimum
The non-predominant mobile charge carrier in a semiconductor. Electrons in P-type material and holes in N-type material.
The smallest line width or spacing between lines or features on a semiconductor die. May be defined "as drawn" or "as printed."
Millions of Instructions Per Second
1) Method Improvement Recommendation
A formalized system for encouraging employee suggestions for improvement.
2)Maximum individual risk
1) Management Information Systems
2) Metal Insulator Silicon
The purpose of a business, a company, a division, a department or an agency. It is not so much "what is our business or function" as "why is our particular business or function".
Quality problem where wrong parts are shipped to customer.
Marketing
milliliter
Maximum Likelihood
Multi-Layer Ceramic
Micro Lead Package
1) Machine Model
2) Material Management (SAP)
The system that manages raw materials in ST.
Multi Media Card Association
Multichannel Multi point Distribution System
Multichannel Microwave Distribution Channel
Wireless cable
Man-Made Mineral Fiber
Monolithic Microwave IC
An analog IC with on-chip inductors and capacitors designed to work at microwave frequencies.
MicroMODule.
Multiple Memory Products
Memory Management Unit
MultiMedia eXtension
MPU instruction extension for easier interface (Modem).
Metal Nitride Oxide Semiconductor
The dielectric between metal and semiconductor is fabricated from silicon nitride. This technology is commonly used to make EEPROMs.
1) Master Oscillator
2) Magneto Optical technology
- Mobility (Hole or Electron)
The rate with which a carrier (majority or minority) moves within a material under the influence of an electric field.
A simplified representation of an object or natural phenomenon used to allow estimates to be made of the behavior of the actual object or phenomenon when the values of certain variables are changed. The model can be described in many possible ways: a set of equations or a physical, miniature version of an object or system. Important environmental models include those estimating the transport, dispersion, and fate of chemicals in the environment. They are especially important for estimating transport, dispersion and fate of chemicals emitted into the atmosphere.
MOdulator DEModulator
Circuit used to convert digital information into tones which can be transmitted over a normal analog telephone line.
Margin Of Exposure
Mechanical protection, in the injection process of thermosetting polymer, for interconnection level.
An aggregate of two or more atoms of a substance that exists as a unit.
Sampling and analysis of air, water, waste, soil, plants, wildlife and so on, to determine the concentration(s) of contaminant(s). Monitoring may be performed on the actual air, water or waste streams being released into the environment, to determine how much of the contaminants of concern is being emitted into the environment, or it may be performed in the media of interest - the atmosphere, surface waters, soil, plant and wildlife - to determine how much these media are already contaminated.
A well drilled into groundwater to determine and track its contamination.
A single wavelength of light energy.
A device whose circuitry is completely contained on a single die or chip.
An international environmental agreement (reached in 1987 and amended several times after) which aims to reduce and eventually eliminate the emissions of man-made ozone depletion substances.
1)Metal Oxide Semiconductor
This is one of the basic technologies used to manufacture integrated circuits, where electrical charges are carried by conduction.
2)Margin Of Safety
Metal Oxide semiconductor Field Effect Transistor
Multiple Optimized Super flash Technology
Precursor company of ST. Based in Carrollton on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas (USA).
Metal Oxide Varistor
Memorandum of Understanding
Melting Point
Maximum Permissible Concentration
Maximum Permissible Dose
Motion Pictures Experts Group
A committee belonging jointly to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Comité Consultatif International Télégraphique et Téléphonique (CCITT). Including representatives of electronics companies, like ST, and broadcasting organizations. It defines standards for the "compression" of digital video signals for consumer products and computers.
First MPEG standard. Defines compression standard for bit rates up to 1.2Mbits and is used in CD applications.
Evolution of the MPEG1 standard, aimed at broadcast TV. The main differences are the higher bit rate of the compressed data stream and support for interlaced images.
Memory Products Group
ST group of divisions which manages, develops and markets semiconductor memories and related products.
Miles per hour
Massive Parallel Processor
Processing technique for Super computers.
1)Management Procurement System
2) Master Production Scheduling
Microprocessor Unit
Sometimes used as a synonym of the word microprocessor.
Magnetic Resonance
millirem
Magnetron Reactive Ion Etch
The use of magnet to shape the ion field of etchant molecules in a reactive ion etch system.
Material Requirements Planning
Management Reporting System
Mass Spectrometer
MicroSoft Disk Operating System
Most Significant Bit
Material Safety Data Sheet
Medium-Scale Integration
A term generally applied to integrated circuit chips containing 30 or more transistors, but less than 1,000.
Media Service Operator
Mini SOP8
MultiSeQuencer
Monolithic Switching Regulators
1) Modulation Switching Schottky
2) Master Sheet Specification
Municipal Solid Waste
Message Transfer Agent
Mean Time Between Assists
Methyl Tertbutylether
Mean Time Between Failure
A maintenance indicator.
The time between two failures on a piece of equipment (calculated).
1) Month To Date
The quantity (or value) produced or sold since the beginningw Roman">of the month.
2) Maximum Tolerated Dose
Merged Transistor Logic
Multichannel TV Sound (stereo TV)
Mean Time To failure
The expectation of the time to failure.
Maximum Total Trihalomethane Potential
Mean Time To Repair (or recover)
Average time spent to repair a piece of equipment which went down.
Mobile Treatment Unit
Modulation TV diodes/rectifiers
Site of ST assembly plant in Malaysia.
Loose term generally used to describe anything where different "media" (sound, picture, text and so on) are combined. It could even be used for a synchronized slide show and sound tape, although it is never used for movies and TV where the inclusion of sound is taken for granted. Today it is mainly used in connection with computer hardware and software that add sound and video to text and graphics.
Power IC package invented by SGS in the late 70s. Registered trademark.
Multi-User Simulated Environment
Mutagenicity
Multiplexer
Molecular Weight
Multiwatt
