Uni-Con - the Comet capacitor for universal semiconductor applications
March 30, 2024
The function of a vacuum capacitor is constant, but its characteristics can be adapted to meet evolving needs. Comet's Uni-Con is a prime example of this: Over the years, it has grown into various other product families that solve ever-changing customer requirements.
Uni-Con is Comet’s universal vacuum capacitor for many applications. Originally a technical enhancement of the Basic-Con series, it now serves as the basis for many other vacuum capacitor solutions, all of which solve specific semiconductor industry needs.
For decades, Comet vacuum capacitors were mainly used for broadcast applications. That changed when Comet entered the semiconductor market in the late 1990s with its fixed Mini-Cap capacitors. It wasn’t long before the designers of impedance matching networks were requesting more and more often also variable vacuum capacitors that could be intentionally and repeatedly changed.
The existing variable Basic-Con product series fulfilled some of these requirements. When Comet engineers improved the design with a better connection concept and a more durable progressive bellows for prolonged life, the Uni-Con product family was born. To this day, variable capacitors from the Uni-Con series are the products most often built into matchboxes.
As the name suggests, Uni-Con is a universal solution for many semiconductor applications. Over the years, we’ve developed additional products to meet the needs of the increasingly complex semiconductor manufacturing process:
Basic-Con |
Basic design for various semiconductor applications. |
Uni-Select |
Designed for low power and general industrial applications. |
Uni-Con |
The universal capacitor for typical semiconductor applications. |
Hexa-Con |
High frequency for high power semiconductor applications, especially durable material. |
Tetra-Con |
High capacitance and high voltage vacuum capacitor. Covers applications where Hexa-Con has the wrong properties and Maxi-Con is too large. |
Comet has developed advanced technologies to enhance the performance of our proven vacuum capacitor series for specific semiconductor industry needs, including the following:
Increases the voltage of low frequency vacuum capacitors for high power density and increased design flexibility for the RF match architecture.
An extended-life drive system that increases reliability and useful lifetime.
Empowering new technologies
We pride ourselves on understanding and meeting customer needs. Supporting match designers with the right components to manufacture the latest generation of semiconductors has always been an important goal. The rising complexity of our customers’ requests continually drives our vacuum capacitor product range to the next level.
Vacuum capacitors solve one universal problem: storing electrical charges. The interesting challenge for our experienced engineers is adapting material and manufacturing processes in new and innovative ways within the limits of fixed physical laws and so enable new developments.
Successful Comet concepts and products, such as those we’ve discussed above, wouldn’t be possible without direct, deep collaboration with customers. Our engineers co-create directly with customer engineers and capture needs one-on-one, whether they relate to the planned plasma process or the matchbox hardware that defines the space for vacuum capacitors. We always welcome this collaboration and look forward to solving new challenges together with our customers.
Product recommendations for semiconductor applications
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