Introduction:

Semiconductor parts are most often specified for use in the commercial 0 to 70oC, and to a lesser extent in the industrial 40 to 85oC operating temperature range. These operating temperature ratings generally satisfy the demands of the dominant semiconductor customers in the computer, telecommunications, and consumer electronic industries. There is also demand for parts rated beyond the industrial temperature range, primarily from the aerospace, military, oil and gas exploration, and automotive industries. However, the demand has not been large enough to attract or retain the interest of major semiconductor part manufacturers to make these parts. In fact, wide temperature range parts are becoming obsolete and functionally equivalent parts are not replacing them.

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