Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Solve problems related to microelectronics processes and design using appropriate techniques involving algebra and trigonometry.
• Apply dimensional analysis to convert between different systems of units and to evaluate relationships between the form and function of microelectronics fabrication processes and equipment.
• ​Calculate and communicate mathematical microelectronics parameters and their appropriate units in written and oral form.

Confidence in implementation of mathematics to support empirical troubleshooting of microelectronics process equipment, semiconductor processes, and manufacturing quality.

The course will include 2 hours of lecture per week. Campus and/or distance training may be employed.

The instructor may use attendance, quizzes, exams, homework, group projects, or individual projects to assess student progress.

Themes, Concepts, and Issues:

• Accuracy in performing calculations and analysis across different systems of units
• Problem solving using mathematical concepts in support of empirical troubleshooting
• Interpretation of graphs
• Communication of mathematical concepts related to microelectronics processes and design in written and oral form

Skills - deeper practice in the following:

1. Application of the Powers of Ten
   1. Convert numbers from (and to) scientific notation and System International values with prefixes.
   2. Present the correct number of significant digits in measurements and calculations
   3. Complete basic operations using number expression in scientific notation
2. Fractions, decimals and percentages
   1. Deeper practice performing basic operations on fractions.
   2. Convert fractions to decimals.
   3. Calculate percentages of numbers written as decimals, in scientific notation and as fractions.
   4. Determine variations in measured values as a function of tolerances.
   5. Identify the relationship between tolerance and error stacking in microelectronics processes and design.
3. Units and linear equations
   1. Deeper practice in understanding the relationship between the base and derived SI units.
   2. Convert between SI units and other commonly used units for microelectronics processes and design.
   3. Label equations and solutions with units as appropriate.
   4. Solve linear equations related to microelectronics applications.
4. Graphing
   1. Deeper analysis of the characteristics of the graph of a linear function.
   2. Deeper analysis of the characteristics of the graph of a logarithmic function.
   3. Generate graphs using best practices for axis scaling, axis labels, and font size.
   4. Compose a technical description of graph content in written form.
5. Graphical exploration of functions used in microelectronics processes and equipment.
   1. Deeper exploration of the relationship between the symbolic and graphical representation of a function
   2. Graph polynomial functions in a spreadsheet program.
   3. Analyze the relationship between voltage, current and circuit parameters in graphical form
6. Complex numbers and trigonometry
   1. Perform basic operations using complex numbers in complex vector space.
   2. Convert complex numbers to polar number format.
   3. Perform basic operations using the polar coordinate system.
7. Logarithms, natural logarithms, exponents
   1. Deeper practice with basic operations using natural logarithms.
   2. Perform basic operations of exponents of Euler’s number.
   3. Graph exponential relationships found in microelectronic device characteristics.