Bits on Chips (third edition; 2026)

The creation of this book was inspired by a request the author received more than two decades ago to give a presentation on integrated circuits, or chips, to a non-technical audience. It is therefore intended for anyone who is curious about chips, ranging from readers with little or no technical background to professional engineers working in one of the many semiconductor disciplines.

The book’s unique structure makes it both a must-have and a want-to-have for anyone interested in semiconductors. It consists of two parts. Part 1 is specifically written for people working in non-technical areas of the semiconductor industry, such as HR, management, marketing and sales, software development, and other roles with limited technical knowledge of integrated circuits. It provides the understanding needed to appreciate the complexity, operation, possibilities, and limitations of chips and to communicate more effectively with technical specialists. This part introduces the background of integrated circuits and gives an accessible overview of the main steps involved in designing and fabricating a chip.

Part 2 provides deeper insight into the various microelectronics disciplines required to develop a fully functional chip, from the initial design stages to the final packaged die. In addition to analog, digital, memory, and interface circuits, it covers the fundamentals of chip performance, yield, testing, failure analysis, and packaging. It concludes with a discussion of the roadblocks to further scaling and explores possible alternatives for what may come next.

Written in a clear and explanatory style, Part 2 is especially suitable for engineers working in one semiconductor discipline who want to broaden their understanding of the field. At the same time, much of the material remains accessible to readers with only a limited technical background.

 An extensive table of contents can be found here.

Carefully structured and enriched with hundreds of color figures and photographs, this hardbound book is both a pleasure to read and a valuable reference to own.

A one-day course “Bits on Chips” is also available based on the contents of this book.