Innovative Materials, Devices, and CMOS Technologies for Low-Power Mobile Multimedia

TLDR

The CMOS paradigm is shifting from speed and density to concerns about variability, manufacturability, power consumption, and mixed digital‑analog/RF integration, affecting all system levels. The study aims to construct a product‑level view of CMOS evolution and contextualize it historically. The authors review state‑of‑the‑art materials, transistor, and technology solutions to meet evolving CMOS requirements. The paper presents a global product‑level analysis and proposes solutions to extend CMOS’s dominance.

Abstract

The paradigm and the usage of CMOS are changing, and so are the requirements at all levels, from transistor to an entire CMOS system. The traditional drivers, such as speed and density of integration, are subject to other prerogatives related to variability, manufacturability, power consumption/dissipation (mobile products!), mix of varied digital and analog/RF functions (system-on-chip integration), etc. Controllability of variations and static leakage will add to, and in certain products prevail, over speed and density. Implications at all levels are multiple and are more diverse than just speed and smallness. The goal of the authors has been to see the problem globally from the product level and to place its components in their true proportions. Therefore, we will start with drawing the product-level picture and placing it in a historical perspective. Next, we will review the state of the art, the requirements, and solutions at the level of materials, transistor, and technology. Detailed analysis and potential solutions for prolonging CMOS as the leading information technology are presented in this paper.