Technology company, I will become the light of China!

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 was Tang Xinyu, and he was the deputy chief executive of Loongson International's lithography team.

He seemed to have heard of it, but couldn't remember where.

"Yes."

Lin Tian nodded and said firmly: "The DUV lithography machine can produce 14-nanometer chips. Its limit is far beyond that. The ideal state is to be able to reach 7 nanometers."

Gao Yongming: "!!!"

Tang Xinyu: "!!!"

Qu Cheng: "!!!"

Is the limit of DUV lithography machine actually 7 nanometers?

What are you kidding?
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 photolithography 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, and 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 exceed it.

The more afraid you are, the more cautious you will be, because the Dragon Kingdom has developed into the world's second largest economy less than 30 years after it emerged from the war. 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 about using this multiple exposure technology. How much does it cost to tape out?"

Chen Xing expressed his attitude.

After Lin Tian received the exact answer, he expressed his thoughts:
"Lithography multiple exposure technology, to put it simply, can be produced with only one chip mask. Now we split it into multiple pieces due to the limitations of the accuracy and resolution of the lithography machine. Each piece has a corresponding circuit pattern.”

"For example, if we want to make a 14-nanometer chip, we can disassemble the designed chip circuit pattern and get two circuit patterns with 28-nanometer intervals. We can engrave them on the silicon wafer twice to form a complete 14-nanometer chip. The circuit pattern is similar to the Tai Chi diagram of our Dragon Kingdom, meaning that one yin and one yang complement each other.”

"Because there are two chip masks, we have to pay double the tape-out fee."

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. Then use the first A mask to engrave A on the silicon wafer, and then use B The letter mask is engraved with B on the silicon wafer, and finally the required AB combination pattern is obtained.

In eight words, the precision is not enough, so the process must be done.

"It will cost twice the tape-out cost, Mr. Gao, 14nm..."

Chen Xing was just about to ask how much the tape-out fee would be, but found that Gao Yongming couldn't stop trembling, his pupils shrank, and he was filled with sudden realization and excitement.

The two lithography engineers beside him were also murmuring. "Multiple exposures..."

“Since a single shot is not accurate enough, why not use two exposures?”

"What a genius idea..."

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 exposure 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, 7nm chips can really be made!
Qu Cheng was also amazed at this idea. He was also an academician in the semiconductor field. Although he was not in photolithography, he knew 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 could all be described as freaks, and Chen Xing could make friends with them at the same time and take them under his wing. No wonder some people say that luck is also a part of strength.

I don’t know how long it took, maybe a full 10 minutes or so.

"call--"

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 14-nanometer chips."

"I think I can give it a try."

Another engineer from Loongson International 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 you will be unforgettable in this life. Recognizing people by their appearance makes you feel ashamed!"

In just sixteen words, Gao Yongming explained why he wanted to kneel.

The principle of multiple exposure technology simply illuminated the direction that Loongson International should move forward, just like a lighthouse seen when driving on the sea. At the same time, he was 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 "bum"!

There are also some "sweeping monks" from 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 teachings, but Chen Xing hugged them one by one.

"Hey! It's almost 2015. Let's not go through all these red tapes. Let's talk about something practical. Can we get a discount on the tape-out fee?"

Chen Xing gave them enough steps and was worried about maintaining the atmosphere.

"Yes!"

Qu Cheng also echoed and joked: "Although the man has gold at his knees, you can't even think of using it to pay for school fees."

"To be realistic, giving them a discount for tape-out is like tuition for learning the principles of multiple exposure technology."

"it is good!"

Gao Yongming did not hesitate and immediately promised: "Loongson International will cover all the tape-out costs for this 14-nanometer chip!"

(End of this chapter)