4000 BCE
Discovery of Semiconducting Materials
Ancient civilizations use naturally occurring semiconducting materials like galena in early electrical experiments. #materials #history
Chronological Storyline (44 Milestones)
1782 CE
Alessandro Volta Invents the Battery
Volta's pile provides a stable electrical source, enabling later semiconductor research. #physics #invention
By Borbrav, svg version by Luigi Chiesa - Image:Voltaic pile.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5091724
1833 CE
Michael Faraday Discovers Semiconductor Effect
Faraday observes that silver sulfide's conductivity increases with temperature, noting the first semiconductor effect. #physics #discovery
1874 CE
Karl Ferdinand Braun Invents Crystal Rectifier
Braun discovers rectification at metal-semiconductor junctions, leading to early radio detectors. #electronics #invention
By Holger.Ellgaard - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5586835
1901 CE
First Silicon-Based Detector
Silicon is used in early crystal radio detectors, marking the first practical semiconductor application. #electronics #history
Dec 23, 1947 CE
Invention of the Point-Contact Transistor
John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley at Bell Labs demonstrate the first working transistor, revolutionizing electronics. #transistor #invention
By Ulfbastel - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3123331
1950 CE
Shockley Develops Bipolar Junction Transistor
William Shockley invents the more practical bipolar junction transistor, enabling mass production. #transistor #technology
By Mister rf at English Wikipedia - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11885148
1954 CE
First Silicon Transistor
Texas Instruments produces the first commercial silicon transistor, replacing germanium for better performance. #silicon #electronics
Sep 12, 1958 CE
Jack Kilby Invents the Integrated Circuit
Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments demonstrates the first integrated circuit, combining multiple components on a single germanium slab. #IC #invention
By cole8888, https://flickr.com/photos/187597251@N05/ (aka Cole L) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/187597251@N05/49899342293/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95653492
Jan 1, 1959 CE
Robert Noyce Invents Monolithic IC
Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor patents a planar integrated circuit using silicon, enabling practical mass production. #IC #semiconductor
By Robert.Baruch - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57750460
1961 CE
First Commercial ICs Released
Fairchild and Texas Instruments release the first commercial integrated circuits, used in military and aerospace applications. #IC #commercial
1963 CE
CMOS Logic Invented
Frank Wanlass at Fairchild invents CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) logic, which becomes dominant due to low power consumption. #CMOS #invention
By Abaddon1337 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19163930
Apr 19, 1965 CE
Moore's Law Published
Gordon Moore predicts that transistor density on ICs will double every two years, guiding the semiconductor industry for decades. #MooresLaw #prediction
By Max Roser, Hannah Ritchie - https://ourworldindata.org/uploads/2020/11/Transistor-Count-over-time.png, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=98219918
1970 CE
First Dynamic RAM (DRAM) Chip
Intel introduces the 1103 DRAM chip, replacing magnetic core memory and enabling affordable computer memory. #memory #semiconductor
By ZeptoBars - http://zeptobars.ru/en/read/how-to-open-microchip-asic-what-inside, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25043835
Nov 15, 1971 CE
Intel 4004 Microprocessor Released
Intel launches the first commercial microprocessor, the 4004, integrating a CPU on a single chip and sparking the microcomputer revolution. #microprocessor #Intel
By Thomas Nguyen - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47684767
1974 CE
First Commercial Microprocessor: Intel 8080
Intel's 8080 becomes the first truly general-purpose microprocessor, used in early personal computers like the Altair 8800. #microprocessor #computing
By The Science Museum UK - [1], CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133514392
1978 CE
Intel 8086 Launches x86 Architecture
Intel introduces the 8086 processor, establishing the x86 architecture that dominates PCs for decades. #x86 #Intel
By Thomas Nguyen - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46809082
1980 CE
First Commercial Stepper for Photolithography
GCA Corporation introduces the first wafer stepper, improving precision in IC fabrication. #lithography #manufacturing
By a13ean - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21317199
1985 CE
Intel 80386: 32-bit Processor
Intel's 386 introduces 32-bit computing and memory management, enabling advanced operating systems like Windows. #microprocessor #Intel
By Konstantin Lanzet (with permission) - CPU collection Konstantin Lanzet, received per EMailCamera: Canon EOS 400D, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4213308
1987 CE
TSMC Founded
Morris Chang founds Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), pioneering the pure-play foundry model that separates chip design from fabrication. #TSMC #foundry
By 曾 成訓 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/tsengphotos/53114942112/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147718717
1989 CE
First Commercial ASIC Foundry Service
TSMC begins offering dedicated foundry services for application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), revolutionizing the semiconductor industry. #ASIC #foundry
By LiveWireInnovation - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16755063
1991 CE
First 0.8 Micron CMOS Process
TSMC introduces a 0.8-micron CMOS process, enabling higher density and performance for logic chips. #CMOS #process
1993 CE
Intel Pentium Processor Released
Intel's Pentium features superscalar architecture and 60 MHz clock speed, becoming a household name in PCs. #microprocessor #Intel
By Intel Corporation - https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/processors/pentium.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132640549
1995 CE
TSMC 0.5 Micron Process
TSMC ramps up 0.5-micron technology, serving major fabless companies like NVIDIA and Qualcomm. #TSMC #semiconductor
1997 CE
Copper Interconnects Introduced
IBM and Motorola introduce copper interconnects to replace aluminum, reducing resistance and improving performance. #interconnect #technology
1999 CE
TSMC 0.18 Micron Process
TSMC's 0.18-micron process becomes a workhorse for system-on-chip (SoC) designs, powering early mobile phones. #SoC #TSMC
2000 CE
First 300mm Wafer Fab
TSMC opens the first 300mm wafer fabrication facility, increasing production efficiency and reducing costs. #wafer #manufacturing )
By Hebbe at German Wikipedia - Foto selber erstellt, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9045190
2002 CE
Strained Silicon Technology
Intel introduces strained silicon to enhance transistor performance, boosting carrier mobility. #transistor #technology
By Unknown author, Copyrighted free use, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=337571
2004 CE
TSMC 90nm Process with Low-k Dielectrics
TSMC adopts low-k dielectric materials to reduce parasitic capacitance, enabling faster switching. #TSMC #process
2006 CE
Intel Core 2 Duo: High-k + Metal Gate
Intel introduces high-k/metal gate technology in its 45nm process, reducing leakage and improving performance. #Intel #technology
2007 CE
First 3D NAND Flash Memory
Toshiba announces 3D NAND flash, stacking memory cells vertically to increase density. #memory #NAND
By Nrbelex, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=179956
2009 CE
TSMC 40nm Process
TSMC's 40nm node enables high-performance graphics processors and mobile chips. #TSMC #process
2011 CE
FinFET Transistor Introduced
Intel introduces FinFET (tri-gate) transistors at 22nm, improving control and reducing leakage. #transistor #FinFET
By Д.Ильин: vectorization - File:Doublegate FinFET.PNG by Irene Ringworm at English Wikipedia, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132333446
2012 CE
TSMC 28nm Process Ramp
TSMC's 28nm node becomes a long-lived process for mobile and networking chips, widely adopted. #TSMC #process
2014 CE
TSMC 16nm FinFET Process
TSMC adopts FinFET at 16nm, competing with Intel and enabling high-performance mobile processors. #FinFET #TSMC
2015 CE
ASML Ships First EUV Lithography Prototype
ASML delivers the first extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system, NXE:3300B, for advanced node development. #EUV #lithography
By 2pem - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30619878
2017 CE
TSMC 7nm Process in Production
TSMC begins volume production of 7nm chips, used in Apple A12 and AMD Ryzen processors. #TSMC #7nm
2018 CE
First EUV High-Volume Manufacturing
TSMC and Samsung start using EUV lithography for 7nm+ and 5nm nodes, enabling finer patterning. #EUV #manufacturing
2019 CE
TSMC 5nm Process Announced
TSMC announces 5nm process with EUV, offering 15% speed gain and 30% power reduction over 7nm. #TSMC #5nm
2020 CE
Apple M1 Chip Using TSMC 5nm
Apple's M1 processor, built on TSMC's 5nm process, delivers breakthrough performance and efficiency for Macs. #Apple #M1
By Sonic8400 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=100628728
2021 CE
TSMC 3nm Process Development
TSMC begins risk production of 3nm chips, using FinFlex technology for optimized performance and power. #TSMC #3nm
2022 CE
ASML Ships First High-NA EUV System
ASML delivers the first high-NA (0.55) EUV lithography system, enabling sub-3nm nodes. #EUV #ASML
2023 CE
TSMC 2nm Technology Revealed
TSMC announces 2nm process with nanosheet transistors, targeting production in 2025. #TSMC #2nm
2024 CE
Global Chip Shortage Spurs Fab Expansion
TSMC, Intel, and Samsung announce massive investments in new fabs worldwide to address semiconductor supply chain resilience. #semiconductor #supplychain