Setra Blog

What is Semiconductor Manufacturing?

Front-end semiconductor wafer manufacturing involves building integrated circuits on silicon wafers through tightly controlled steps like deposition, photolithography, etching, doping, and metrology. In these ultra-clean environments, Setra’s ultra-high purity (UHP) pressure transducers ensure contamination-free delivery of process gases and liquids, while vacuum capacitance manometers deliver precise vacuum and pressure readings during critical steps like etching and deposition. Together, these sensors form the pressure-monitoring backbone of wafer fabs, supporting process stability and high device yield.

When selecting a particle counter, it is necessary to consider what building automation network it can communicate with. Examining the available options helps to ensure the particle counter will connect to your existing network.

Building on the strengths of the Setra FLEX, FLEX-RC adds control capability to the monitor and alarming functions. With the added control capability, FLEX-RC can help manage an environment in a number of ways.

HVAC/R systems can be designed to perform a variety of functions. Examples of these functions include improving comfort, managing maintenance within a building, minimizing mold, and monitoring pressure in a critical space. HVAC/R encompasses many applications, including:

Building automation systems (BAS) are increasingly common in a variety of environments to make HVAC systems as efficient as possible and reduce the need for in-person monitoring of pressure in each area. The value of a BAS relies heavily on a number of components seamlessly integrated together. Pressure transducers that conduct intensely accurate measurements work in tandem with room pressure monitors presenting real-time data and raising alarms if something goes wrong. Calibration equipment ensures building automation tools work smoothly and accurately without the need to oversee them. A BAS can be used in many applications, from filter monitoring to green buildings to zone control in critical environments.

Nosocomial infections (also known as Hospital-Acquired Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections, or HAIs) can result in otherwise avoidable extended hospital stays, readmittance, follow-up treatments, and even death. HAIs can often spread via airborne transmission, which emphasizes the need for proper room pressurization to contain hazardous particles. Operating rooms (ORs) are an area where patients are especially at risk for contracting infections. 2.5µm particles are an important leading indicator of the potential presence of contaminants that could put the patient at risk. The best opportunity to manage the risk of infections is by limiting 2.5µm particles in a space.

Now available, the Model AXD™ Pressure Sensor is Setra's most versatile pressure transducer yet. Built for high performance applications, the Model AXD features a patented overpressure stop that allows the sensor to recover from overpressure conditions up to 8x the rated range. With a specially designed diaphragm for each pressure range, the Model AXD can measure pressure from 1 PSI to 10,000 PSI full scale. The Model AXD can operate over a wide temperature range from -40 to 125°C.

Many HVAC, critical environments, and industrial applications employ temperature and relative humidity (T/RH) sensors. But exactly how many T/RH sensors does an application require? It is difficult to spec the exact requirements for certain applications for a variety of reasons. No two applications are identical, and thus no two spaces require the same number of T/RH sensors. As each application is unique, the number of sensors needed depends on several factors, including:

Room pressure readings are useful and often necessary in a range of spaces. However, two pressure transducers in the same space might not always present the same reading. A variety of circumstances can have an impact on the reading of a pressure sensor.

Inhaling airborne particles can put both critical patients and healthcare staff at risk for detrimental health issues. Controlling these particles is necessary for protecting both staff and occupants of nearby rooms from exposure to infectious particles. To maintain safety in a hospital, it is crucial to monitor both differential pressure and particle counts in anterooms.