Tag Archives: devices

How to Choose a Good Video Converter for You

In case you don’t know what a video converter is, let’s give a clear explanation of it first. A video converter is a program that converts videos to other video formats that can be played on certain devices. It is the direct digital-to-digital data conversion of one encoding to another. The common reason that people use a video converter is that their desired devices, like iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Mac, etc, cannot support certain video formats that they want to watch on their devices. If you have this situation sometimes as well, you may need to consider getting a video converter.

A good video converter should be professional and powerful. It must have two main features: converting and editing videos. For video conversion, it should support multiple video formats. Currently there are several popular video types, such as MP4, MOV, AVI, HD, WMV, FLV, SWF, 3GP and MKV, etc. These video formats are supported by most devices but there is no one device that can play all video types. This is where a video converter is needed. With a video converter, it is easy to convert these formats mutually. This is the main function of a video converter.

Another main feature of a good video converter is that it enables users to edit videos. When people use a video converter to transfer videos, sometimes they want to customize or personalize the output videos, for example, adding watermark, adding background music and modify the effect. A good video converter should have all these features ready. Users should be allowed to merge several video files into one as well. For pro video editor, a good video converter means it offers the ability to let users extract audios of a video.

Apart from these two main functions, a good video converter should have a very user-friendly interface. This can give users a very clear instruction to start. It also should be fast. No one wants to wait for hours to convert one video. Support is also very imperative. If a video converter doesn’t upgrade for years, then it’s not a good one.

Currently there are numerous video converters on the market. Some are free and some are paid. We cannot say free means bad, but paid programs have more powerful functions. A good video converter can save huge time because of its super fast speed. It can also produce excellent quality videos. As we all know, during the video conversion, there are some losses. A pro video converter can decrease this loss and try to keep the original quality.

How SOI Wafers are Advancing MEMS Manufacturing

Advancements in MEMS manufacturing, like many technological markets, is greatly driven by size, cost, and performance. Implementing SOI wafer solutions in the MEMS fabrication process allows production of smaller devices, cheaper costs and higher device performance. Let’s take a look at how SOI wafers are created and how they are advancing MEMS manufacturing.

The main draw to SOI (Silicon-on-Insulator) wafer technology is that it features an electrically insulating layer to protect the micro device. They are created using three layers of material. The first layer is the device layer; thin layers of high-quality silicon where the transistors are formed. The second layer is the insulating layer called the BOX (buried oxide) which is usually made out of silicon dioxide. This layer keeps the transistors isolated from the third layer, the handle layer. The handle layer is made of bulk silicone and provides structural support to the device. SOI wafers can be either thick film or thin film, depending on the application.

SMALLER DEVICES

The first advantage SOI solutions have over bulk silicone wafers is that they allow for creation of smaller devices. The wafer manufacturing process makes the transistors more efficient, allowing for the production of more compact chips and greater chip yield per wafer because the chips can actually be placed closer together.

As consumer technology becomes more compact, MEMS companies strive to develop chips that hold more information in a much smaller space. So, in the MEMs world SOI wafer applications are pretty cool, because not only do they allow for smaller designs, they allow for more flexible designs with greater potential.

CHEAPER COSTS

While the initial cost of is more expensive than bulk silicone wafers, the additional features available with SOI actually create lower manufacturing costs for a better, more advanced product. For instance, SOI wafers with pre-etched cavities are available and they simplify the MEMS manufacturing process by lowering development time. SOI wafers also allow production of higher quality chips without the need to purchase and implement more expensive manufacturing equipment.

With an increasing number of MEMS foundries adopting SOI technology and manufacturing processes as a standard, the prices of these wafers have decreased substantially and continue to decrease.

BETTER PERFORMANCE

The final selling point for SOI is that it offers a solution to create superior products. The insulating BOX layer reduces electrical current leakage, which in turn reduces unnecessary power consumption and gives the transistor better performance. It also reduces heat, allowing for these MEMS devices to be used in higher-temperature environments with no ill effects.

The insulating layer also blocks out signal noise which not only allows the transistors’ switching speeds to increase, but also results in a more precise product.

As you can see, SOI wafers are advancing MEMS manufacturing in a big way. Many engineering companies as well as Universities use SOI wafers for research, development and testing. Implementing SOI solutions in the manufacturing of silicon wafers allows for smaller, better performing devices with a more diverse range of uses at a better cost for both the manufacturer and purchaser. In this way, SOI wafers are impacting MEMS fabrication in a positive and exciting way, while opening possibilities in new applications.

How SOI Wafers are Advancing MEMS Manufacturing

Advancements in MEMS manufacturing, like many technological markets, is greatly driven by size, cost, and performance. Implementing SOI wafer solutions in the MEMS fabrication process allows production of smaller devices, cheaper costs and higher device performance. Let’s take a look at how SOI wafers are created and how they are advancing MEMS manufacturing.

The main draw to SOI (Silicon-on-Insulator) wafer technology is that it features an electrically insulating layer to protect the micro device. They are created using three layers of material. The first layer is the device layer; thin layers of high-quality silicon where the transistors are formed. The second layer is the insulating layer called the BOX (buried oxide) which is usually made out of silicon dioxide. This layer keeps the transistors isolated from the third layer, the handle layer. The handle layer is made of bulk silicone and provides structural support to the device. SOI wafers can be either thick film or thin film, depending on the application.

SMALLER DEVICES

The first advantage SOI solutions have over bulk silicone wafers is that they allow for creation of smaller devices. The wafer manufacturing process makes the transistors more efficient, allowing for the production of more compact chips and greater chip yield per wafer because the chips can actually be placed closer together.

As consumer technology becomes more compact, MEMS companies strive to develop chips that hold more information in a much smaller space. So, in the MEMs world SOI wafer applications are pretty cool, because not only do they allow for smaller designs, they allow for more flexible designs with greater potential.

CHEAPER COSTS

While the initial cost of is more expensive than bulk silicone wafers, the additional features available with SOI actually create lower manufacturing costs for a better, more advanced product. For instance, SOI wafers with pre-etched cavities are available and they simplify the MEMS manufacturing process by lowering development time. SOI wafers also allow production of higher quality chips without the need to purchase and implement more expensive manufacturing equipment.

With an increasing number of MEMS foundries adopting SOI technology and manufacturing processes as a standard, the prices of these wafers have decreased substantially and continue to decrease.

BETTER PERFORMANCE

The final selling point for SOI is that it offers a solution to create superior products. The insulating BOX layer reduces electrical current leakage, which in turn reduces unnecessary power consumption and gives the transistor better performance. It also reduces heat, allowing for these MEMS devices to be used in higher-temperature environments with no ill effects.

The insulating layer also blocks out signal noise which not only allows the transistors’ switching speeds to increase, but also results in a more precise product.

As you can see, SOI wafers are advancing MEMS manufacturing in a big way. Many engineering companies as well as Universities use SOI wafers for research, development and testing. Implementing SOI solutions in the manufacturing of silicon wafers allows for smaller, better performing devices with a more diverse range of uses at a better cost for both the manufacturer and purchaser. In this way, SOI wafers are impacting MEMS fabrication in a positive and exciting way, while opening possibilities in new applications.