Chapter 78: The grace of teaching is unforgettable in this life
"Multiple exposure technology?"
The engineer standing on the right side of Gao Yongming looked puzzled. His name is Tang Xinyu, and he is a director of Loongson International Lithography. Deputy Chief of the Team.
He seemed to have heard of it, but couldn’t remember where.
"That's right."
Lin Tian nodded and said firmly: "DUV lithography machine can produce 14nm chips. Its limit is far beyond this. In the ideal state It can reach 7 nanometers."
Gao Yongming!"
Tang Xinyu: "!" >
The limit of DUV lithography machine is actually 7 nanometers?
Are you kidding me?
Chen Xing was also shocked. If a 20-nanometer process DUV lithography machine could be used to create a 7-nanometer chip, would the West be shocked by this?
Although on the surface, the United States has not yet finished blocking technology, but behind the scenes, it has already restricted the purchase of lithography machines.
Its approach is very simple. It can sell you Longguo lithography machine, but it cannot sell you the most advanced lithography machine.
For example, two years ago, when 28nm was still at an advanced level, 28nm process DUV lithography machines could not be sold to Long Country. Anyone who dared to sell it would be going against the United States.
Does the Netherlands dare?
Obviously they don’t dare, they don’t have the ability.
To put it bluntly, the Dutch ASML company is just a photolithography machine assembly factory. Without American light source technology, it is nothing.
Today, after the West conquered the 14-nanometer chip, it has set its sights on the 7-nanometer chip. Naturally, the 20-nanometer DUV lithography machine has been released.
The purpose of the United States is obvious. It is allowed to use it, but it is not allowed to transcend it.
The more afraid you are, the more cautious you will be, because the Dragon Kingdom has only been out of the war for less than 30 years and has developed into the world's second largest economy. What will happen if it is given another 30 years to develop?
The sleeping lion, the dragon in the east, how dare they not be on guard?
Although Chen Xing is a businessman, he is also a Dragon Kingdom businessman. If he can produce a 14-nanometer chip at home, he is still willing to pay more for tape-out.
After all, Qu Cheng also said that the national chip support applied for by Longxing Technology Company has also completed the review process, and both funds and land have entered the final approval stage.
“Tell me how much it costs to tape out using this multiple exposure technology?”
Chen Xing expressed his attitude.
After receiving the exact answer, Lin Tian expressed his thoughts:
“Photolithography multiple exposure technology, to put it simply, only one chip mask is needed. The production can be done. Now, due to the limitations of the accuracy and resolution of the photolithography machine, we split it into multiple pieces, each piece has a corresponding circuit pattern. "
"For example, we are going to make a 14-nanometer chip. , you can disassemble the designed chip circuit pattern and get two circuit patterns with 28 nanometer intervals. Carve them on the silicon wafer twice to form a complete 14 nanometer chip circuit pattern, which is similar to our dragon The Chinese Tai Chi diagram means that one yin and one yang complement each other. "
"Because there are two chip masks, double the tape-out fee will be charged. "
Chen Xing roughly understood that this multiple exposure technology is equivalent to printing a combined pattern of the letters AB.
The first step is to disassemble AB to get two patterns, A and B, and then make photomasks for them respectively, and then use the first mask of the letter A to engrave on the silicon wafer A, and then use the B letter mask to engrave B on the silicon wafer, and finally get the required AB combination pattern.
To sum it up in eight words, the precision is not enough and the process must be made up.
"It will cost twice as much for the tape-out, Mr. Gao, 14nm..."
Chen Xinggang wanted to ask how much the tape-out fee was, but found that Gao Yongming couldn't stop trembling. , while his pupils shrank, they were filled with sudden realization and excitement.
The two lithography engineers beside him were also murmuring. "Multiple exposures..."
"Since the accuracy of a single shot is not enough, why not use two exposures?"
"What a genius idea..."
< br>The three of them seemed to have entered a state of enlightenment. Gao Yongming himself was engaged in this field and was also a professor in the field of lithography. Naturally, he could not understand what Lin Tian was talking about. Now there was only one sentence in his mind: "Multiple exposures" Technology, is the spring of DUV lithography machines finally coming? ”
The pattern of one yin and one yang complement each other. It is absolutely possible in theory, and it can be divided into four. Although the process is more complicated, not to mention, 7 nanometer chips can really be made!
Qu Cheng is also amazed at this idea. He is also an academician in the semiconductor field. Although he is not in photolithography, he knows all the steps clearly.
While marveling at Lin Tian's ideas, he also lamented how Chen Xing was so lucky to get to know so many geniuses.
Gao Zhengqian, Bai Yan, and Lin Tian can all be described as freaks, and Chen Xing can make friends with them at the same time and take them under his command. No wonder some people say that luck is also a part of strength. .
I don’t know how much time passed, maybe ten minutes or so.
"Huh——"
Tang Xinyu breathed a long sigh of relief, looked at Gao Yongming and said: "Producing yin and yang chip masks may really break through the limitations of the photolithography machine and create 14nm chips. .”
“I think we can give it a try.”
Another Loongson International engineer also spoke in affirmation.
In the past, their thinking was that they could manufacture chips with as many nanometers as they had nanometer-precision lithography machines. This was also a stereotype that the international community had been instilling, solidifying their thinking.
When Lin Tian proposed the multiple exposure technology and explained the principle, they were instantly enlightened and jumped out of their rigid thinking, thus discovering a new world.
Gao Yongming was also a temperamental person, and his knees suddenly bent.
However, Lin Tian had quick eyesight and quick hands. He held him up and couldn't help complaining: "No, what do you want to do?"
"The grace of teaching me will be unforgettable in this life. It’s shameful to recognize a person by his appearance!”
Gao Yongming explained why he wanted to kneel down in just sixteen words.
The principle of multiple exposure technology simply illuminates the direction that Loongson International is going to move forward, just like a lighthouse seen when driving on the sea. At the same time, he is also ashamed. Why did he judge a person by his appearance before?
Perelman, who solved the Poincaré conjecture and refused the Fields Medal in mathematics, shocked the world and was still a slovenly "tramp"!
There are also some "sweeping monks" in Long Kingdom. They are also unkempt and do whatever makes them feel comfortable. Some of them smoke and drink in public during class lectures.
After realizing that he had made a mistake, Gao Yongming also dared to take responsibility.
The two engineers beside him also followed suit and wanted to thank Lin Tian for his kindness in teaching, but Chen Xing hugged them one by one.
"Hey! It's almost 2015. Let's not go through all these red tapes. Why don't we talk about reality? Can we get a discount on the tape-out fee?"
Chen Xing gave them enough steps to maintain the atmosphere. Heartbroken.
“Yes!”
Qu Cheng also echoed, joking: “Although the man has gold at his knees, you can’t even think of using it to pay for tuition.”
"To be realistic, giving them a discount for tape-out is just like tuition for learning the principles of multiple exposure technology."
"Okay!"
Gao Yongming did not hesitate and immediately promised: "Loongson International will cover all the tape-out costs for this 14nm chip!"
(End of this chapter)