Die (integrated circuit)

A die in the context of integrated circuits is a small block of semiconducting material, on which a given functional circuit is fabricated. Typically, integrated circuits are produced in large batches on a single wafer of electronic-grade silicon (EGS) or other semiconductor (such as GaAs) through processes such as photolithography. The wafer is cut (“diced”) into many pieces, each containing one copy of the circuit. Each of these pieces is called a die.

There are three commonly used plural forms: dice, dies, and die.

Images

Single NPN bipolar junction transistor die.

Single NPN bipolar junction transistor die.

Close-up of an RGB light-emitting diode, showing the three individual silicon dice.

Close-up of an RGB light-emitting diode, showing the three individual silicon dice.

A small-scale integrated circuit die, with bond wires attached.

A small-scale integrated circuit die, with bond wires attached.

A VLSI integrated-circuit die.

A VLSI integrated-circuit die.

Die (manufacturing)

A die is a specialized tool used in manufacturing industries to cut or shape material mostly using a press. Like molds, dies are generally customized to the item they are used to create. Products made with dies range from simple paper clips to complex pieces used in advanced technology.

Die forming

Forming dies are typically made by tool and die makers and put into production after mounting into a press. The die is a metal block that is used for forming materials like sheet metal and plastic. For the vacuum forming of plastic sheet only a single form is used, typically to form transparent plastic containers (called blister packs) for merchandise. Vacuum forming is considered a simple molding thermoforming process but uses the same principles as die forming. For the forming of sheet metal, such as automobile body parts, two parts may be used: one, called the punch, performs the stretching, bending, and/or blanking operation, while another part, called the die block, securely clamps the workpiece and provides similar stretching, bending, and/or blanking operation. The workpiece may pass through several stages using different tools or operations to obtain the final form. In the case of an automotive component there will usually be a shearing operation after the main forming is done and then additional crimping or rolling operations to ensure that all sharp edges are hidden and to add rigidity to the panel.

Delta Cafés

Delta Cafés (Portuguese pronunciation: [dɛɫtɐ kɐfɛʃ]) is a Portuguese coffee roasting and coffee packaging company headquartered in Campo Maior, Alentejo. The company was founded in 1961 and is among the top market leaders in the Iberian Peninsula. The company belongs to Nabeiro Group, the personal conglomerate of its founder Rui Nabeiro, which include interests on agribusiness, agriculture, real estate, hotels, and other services.

History

Delta Cafés was founded by Rui Nabeiro in 1961 in the town of Campo Maior, Alentejo in a small 50-m² warehouse, which could only handle two 30 kg roasters. In 1998, the Nabeiro/Delta Cafés Group was restructured and gave rise to 22 companies organized into strategic areas, with turnover of approximately €160 million. In the 2000s, it become the market leader for coffee in Portugal, with a market share of 38%. It has 47,000 direct retail clients (among the largest of which is Sonae, a leading Portuguese retailer) and 3,000 employees. Also in the 2007, Delta Cafés launched its own espresso products, Delta Q, based on a proprietary system of single-serving "capsules" containing ground coffee and rooibos, and specialized machines to brew espresso from the contents of the capsules in a similar way to that of Nestlé's Nespresso brand portfolio.

Delta (video game)

Delta is a horizontally scrolling shooter computer game originally released for the Commodore 64 by Thalamus Ltd in 1987. It was programmed by Stavros Fasoulas and the music was written by Rob Hubbard. The menu-music is based on the theme of Koyaanisqatsi by Philip Glass and the in-game-music is based on Pink Floyd's On the Run. The game was also released for the ZX Spectrum in 1990 as Delta Charge.

The game was released as Delta Patrol in the United States by Electronic Arts for its Amazing Software line of action-oriented software programs, in 1987 on the Commodore 64.

The player controls a spaceship and gains power-up points by destroying formations of enemies. Some enemy formations instead subtract power-up points for the player, so the player must take note of which formations to destroy. Periodically blocks containing the power-ups (higher speed, faster rate of fire) appear and the player can pick one of them up: The more points the player has collected, the more powerful are the power-ups that can be chosen. Unavailable power-ups are gray and kill the player if he flies into them, making them part of the obstacles in the game. The effects of the power-ups are lost over time and must therefore be regained. The player gets a choice between in-game music or in-game sound effects. There is also a high score table but no way to save it when the game is turned off.

Delta (electoral district)

Delta is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1997 and since 2015.

History

The 1988–1997 edition of this riding was created in 1987 from parts of Fraser Valley West, Richmond—South Delta and Surrey—White Rock—North Delta ridings. During this period of time, the riding consisted of the District Municipality of Delta and the southwest part of the District Municipality of Surrey. It was abolished in 1996, and became part of Delta—South Richmond.

The riding was recreated following the 2012 federal electoral boundaries redistribution. The boundaries for this edition of the riding are perfectly coterminal with the District Municipality of Delta. The riding was created from parts of Newton—North Delta and Delta—Richmond East. These new boundaries were legally defined in the 2013 representation order, which came into effect upon the call of the 42nd Canadian federal election, scheduled for October 2015.