Green ICs

How can you Chip in?Green ICs

What is an IC?

“An electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material. Additional materials are deposited and patterned to form interconnections between semiconductor devices.” (Wikipedia, Feb 11-2012)

Which Means? An IC is a densely packed array of small electronic

components manufactured to perform a specific task.

Some examples you’ve probably already worked with:

555 Timer PIC Microcontroller 741 Op Amp

Focus: ICs, their packaging, and Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)

What is a Green IC? Not Blue, Not Yellow, But a Dangerous Hybrid of them both…

What is a Green IC?

Minimal Impact on the Environment.

All standards seek to limit the amount of toxic materials the IC contain.

Why are ICs Dangerous? ICs and PCBs can contain dangerous

materials, including various heavy metals, carcinogens, and neurotoxins.

Lead Lead is used to connect the IC to the Circuit Board (Solder). Prior to 2005, Arlen Recycling Inc. estimated that the average

computer contained up to 6.3% lead. Since another presentation is on the dangers of lead solder, we

won’t go into too much detail.

Mercury Side Effects:

Cognitive and Behavioral disabilities Memory Problems Coordination Problems Visual-Spatial Impairment Lung Damage (if inhaled) Gastrointestinal Damage (if ingested) Kidney Damage (at high doses) Death (at extremely high doses)

Mercury

Found primarily in the PCBs and different electrical components such as mercury switches.

The environment is exposed to the mercury when old electronic equipment is disposed of in landfills.

Hexavalent Chromium Side Effects:• Skin rashes• Upset stomachs and ulcers• Respiratory problems• Weakened immune systems• Kidney and liver damage• Alteration of genetic material• Lung cancer• Death

Cadmium Found in surface mount chip

resistorsKidney, bone, and pulmonary

damage

PBBsPolybrominated BiphenylUsed as a fire retardant commonly found in

plastics.

The exact effects on humans are unknown, though some studies show links between PBBs and:

Skin Problems Weight Loss Nervous and immune system effects Early menarche in young women

PBDEs Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether A type of PBB. Takes a long time to break down Bio-accumulate Found mostly in the plastic casings of the ICs. Linked to infertility, Concentration in humans has increased

dramatically in previous years.

What can we do about it? As consumers of electronic products, we can

recycle old equipment properly. As Future Engineers (hopefully), we have a

responsibility to make design choices that will minimize the negative impact on the environment.

Hypothetical situation: Designing a new cellular phone for a major retailer. 2-3 year lifespan Old phone is discarded and is replaced.

What can we do about it? You designed it with dangerous materials Within 3 years, it’s garbage A certain phone has sold over 4 million units this

year. iWon’t mention which one A lot of your product is in the garbage

Yes, you are a terrible person. But you don’t have to be!Follow the RoHS guidelines!

RoHS GuidelinesRestriction of Hazardous SubstancesPut forward by the European Union Took effect in July of 2006 Regulates the levels of 6 toxic substances:

Lead Mercury Cadmium

Hexavalent Chromium PBBs PBDEs

RoHS GuidelinesSubstances must be kept below 0.1%

concentration except Cadmium, which is limited to 0.01%.

This concentration limit is for any homogenous piece of the whole device.

These guidelines do not limit batteries.

RoHS Guidelines and North AmericaCanada and the USA are not members of the

European Union. Canada and the USA do not have an equivalent of

the RoHSMany mass producers of ICs market both RoHS

compliant and non-RoHS compliant components.

What to Watch for Select components that are RoHS compliant. RoHS compliant devices usually use it as a key

selling feature. If you do not see a prominent statement of RoHS

compliance, then odds are the component doesn’t comply.

The Downsides Higher price Product availability (Not a

huge issue anymore)

But wait, there’s more! Your product can: Be marketed in Europe. Compete with other products. Appease environmentalists. Give you a clean conscience.

Questions?