Rebirth: Dominate The World, Starting From The School Network

it is as expected.

There are two important factors restricting the development of Loongson International.

First, the construction of its own relevant talent team is not enough.

Second, the performance of the lithography equipment is lagging behind, but there is no way to buy the most advanced lithography equipment from ASML.

Among these two important factors, there is actually a way to solve the first talent factor.

Talent.

In this world, the most indispensable thing is talented people.

and.

In the semiconductor industry, many of the most advanced technologies were developed by the Chinese.

And recruiting talents is also simple.

Nothing more than the word money.

As long as the money is in place, no matter how hard you dig, you can get a few "820" technical experts.

The hardest thing to solve is the second factor.

It is impossible to buy advanced photolithography equipment.

In the 1990s.

Even if you can't buy ASML's lithography machine, you still have to buy lithography equipment from Canon and Nikang in the island country.

However, as the lithography machine equipment was stuck at 193nm on the light source and could not break through, the two former lithography machine giants, Canon and Nikang, became lonely.

To know.

In the early days, the lithography equipment of Nikang and Canon were basically on the same level as ASML.

As the light source wavelength of the lithography machine is stuck at 193nm, it has become a difficulty facing the entire industry.

When carving something, the pattern must be fine and the tip of the knife must be sharp.

But how to "grind" the 193nm light wave finer?

Most of the semiconductor industry is involved, and two teams are eager to try.

Companies represented by Nikang, Jianeng, etc. advocate using 157nm F2 laser on the basis of previous generation technology and taking a stable path.

The new EUVLLC alliance represented by ASML is betting on more radical extreme ultraviolet technology, using extreme ultraviolet light of only a dozen nanometers to engrave chip processes below ten nanometers.

But technology has come to this point, and no matter which method is used, it is actually not easy to do.

At this time, a genius engineer named Lin Benjian appeared in charge of Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

he proposes:

Reducing the wavelength of light and starting from the light source are the fundamental methods.

High school students all know that water will reduce the wavelength of light. If a layer of water is added between the lens and the silicon wafer, the original 193nm laser will be refracted and will directly cross the 157nm gap and be reduced to 132nm!

Lin Benjian took this "immersive lithography" plan and traveled to North America, Hans, island countries and other countries.

I lobbied various semiconductor giants, but all received a closed door.

A senior executive of a certain company even gave a harsh word to Jiang Shangyi, COO of Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., telling Lin Benjian to "not disrupt the situation."

after all

This is just an ideal situation.

When adding water to create a wetted environment in a sophisticated machine, you have to consider both actual performance and contamination.

If for this short-term alternative, light source research is delayed.

Being thankless is only secondary, being overtaken by your opponent is not a good look.

then.

Companies such as Nikang and Jianeng chose to go all the way on 157nm, but they did not realize that there was a spoiler behind them.

Asmai, who was still a minor player at the time, decided to take a gamble.

Compared with the previous investment in traditional dry lithography, betting on immersion technology is more likely to make big gains with small gains.

So Asmai and Lin Benjian hit it off.

It only took a year.

In October 2003, ASML and TSMC developed the first immersion lithography equipment - TWINSCANXT:1150i.

In 2004, ASML's immersion lithography machine was improved and matured, and it successively won orders from major customers such as IBM and Zhong Electronics.

Ni Kang is half a step too late

Although the finished product of dry lithography 157nm technology was quickly unveiled in the same year.

But after all, Asmai took the lead.

not to mention.

Wavelength is still slightly behind its rivals.

On one side is the improved new technology of mature 132nm wavelength, and on the other side is the prototype of 157nm wavelength. The outcome is self-evident.

A year later, the company completed its pursuit of immersion technology, but customers no longer recognized Nikang as an "old lover."

after all.

Lithography machines are not children's toys.

Replacement costs money, and learning costs even more.

Due to wrong route selection, Nikang and Jianeng gradually failed in the lithography machine process.

The lithography machine market has also changed from the three pillars before to now being dominated by ASML.

Although currently.

Nikang and Jianeng are still working hard in the field of lithography machines and want to regain their former status.

But the backwardness in technology made this impossible.

so.

Even if Nikang and Canon are still selling photolithography machines, they can only compete with ASML in the low-end market by virtue of their price advantage.

On the other hand, Asmai.

It was once just a small joint venture owned by Philip. 5.1

Counting the boss, there are a total of 31 employees in the company, who can only work in a temporary board room set up next to Philip's headquarters. As soon as you go out, you can see a huge garbage plaque next to the board room.

When going out to sell, you can only do so in the name of the parent company.

Against the backdrop of his opponents, he looks weak, pitiful, and helpless.

Until now.

Relying on the correct route decision-making, it directly transformed itself, surpassing Nikang and Jianeng, and became a lithography equipment manufacturing giant.

In less than twenty years, the scenery has changed.

ASML, as a loyal ally of North America, suddenly stood up and took control of the life and death of the foundry, and became a key weapon in the game between great powers. .