SemiDice

The Semi Dice Retrospective
Semi Dice Opens (Garage) Doors
October 1976, Volume 5, Number 3

"Bare die users no longer have to pull die out of hermetic glass packages. They can just buy the die directly from Semi Dice." - Jerry Flynt

Semi Dice opened the (garage) doors for business several months ago and owner Jerry Flynt reports that business has been picking up ever since. Semi Dice's first order was from Teledyne Electronics in Los Angeles. The order was slightly late because the "To" and "From" addresses were reversed on the shipping label. Teledyne's semiconductor buyer, Warren Klevin, pointed this out to Jerry who in turn had some strong words for the shipping department. The problem has been corrected. Jerry is currently trying to get some business from the capacitor buyer at Teledyne, John Speight.

Speaking of capacitors, Semi Dice is the first die distributor to stock passive devices. Jerry recently cut a deal with Ralph Casper at California Micro Devices to handle their thin film resistor line, GTI. Other additions to the Semi Dice Line Card are Sprague Semiconductors and Semicoa. Sprague Semiconductors is the first franchised line offered by Semi Dice. The complete Semi Dice line card now reads:
California Micro Devices
GTI Corporation
Semicoa
Sprague Semiconductor
Semi Dice is currently supplying diodes, transistors, thin film resistors and ceramic capacitors.

Semi Dice recently experienced their first quality concern when a customer complained about discoloration of the die. The Semi Dice Q.A. manager personally visited the customer to check out the problem. The Q.A. manager observed the customer using a saliva-moistened toothpick to pick up the tie. The eagle eyed Q.A. manager explained to the customer the proper procedures for handling bare die and the discoloration problem was solved.

Some other issues facing the bare die user today are: devices that are not glassivated, handling mesa technology devices, cold probing at -55C and purple plague. We are following these issues and will keep our readers informed.

As for the future of Semi Dice…Jerry Flynt said that before the year is over, he will add another person, thereby doubling his employee based and will probably move the facility out of the garage at that time. He is also talking to a tantalum capacitor supplier.

"I am very excited about the future of Semi Dice," said Jerry, "and someday it will be the world leader in die distribution."

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