MEMS: Making Micro Machines to Premiere at SEMICON West

Filmmaker Ruth Carranza knows more about semiconductor and computer manufacturing than almost anyone in the business. With a seven-part educational film series on the subject already under her belt, Carranza will soon showcase the first in a trilogy of films about microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS, and nanotechnology. Premiering at SEMICON West on July 15, the new Silicon Run film MEMS: Making Micro Machines offers a rare close-up of MEMS design, fabrication, testing and packaging.

“Educators and industrial trainers have been clamoring for films that explore the significant differences between semiconductor and computer manufacturing and MEMS manufacturing processes—and there has been scant material to meet this need,” said Ruth Carranza, principal of Silicon Run Productions. “MEMS: Making Micro Machines provides an inside look at actual industrial technical processes—shot on location at Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments and Freescale—three companies with commercial success in mass-producing microfluidics, optical MEMS and sensors, respectively. With an emphasis on such real-world views of manufacturing, I hope that the film effectively prepares both undergraduate students entering the workforce and new industrial employees who need to be trained or exposed to MEMS manufacturing.”

Carranza collaborated with MEMS Industry Group (MIG), the trade association representing the MEMS and microstructures industries, to include a variety of MEMS devices and related applications in the film.

Karen Lightman, managing director of MIG, will introduce Carranza before the film’s premiere: “Speaking for both MIG and for MIG members who participated in the film—Coventor, Discera, Freescale Semiconductor, Omron Electronic Components, Robert Bosch GmbH, Sensonor Technologies AS and Texas Instruments—it has been a privilege to work with Ruth Carranza on the making of the first film to provide a close-up look at the inner workings of MEMS manufacturing. Given this achievement, we believe that Ruth’s contribution to the MEMS industry will be significant and enduring.”

MEMS: Making Micro Machines features Freescale’s design of sensors for automotive, medical, industrial and consumer applications; Texas Instruments’ packaging of Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology; and Hewlett Packard’s fabrication of the thermal inkjet print heads. These MIG members provided critical on-site filming locations for MEMS: Making Micro Machines.

MEMS: Making Micro Machines will premiere to SEMICON West attendees on Wednesday, July 15 at the SEMI Theater, North Moscone.

Fore more information on the film or Silicon Run Productions, visit www.siliconrun.com.