jms_embedded
Active member
Let's say that an automotive chip manufacturer has a small low-cost mixed-signal design that's been out there for a few years, manufactured on a TSMC 180nm process, and it's successful. Demand goes up and now the problem is capacity constraint.
Someone points out to them that it looks like another feature size will have capacity much sooner than 180nm... say 40nm or 65nm.
What, if any, are the technological issues preventing the 180nm chip from being made as-is on a 40nm or 65nm process, to provide extra capacity?
(Economic issues are a separate nail in the coffin: maybe the cost per unit area is 2-3x as much on those smaller process nodes and it makes no sense, but humor me for a second.)
Someone points out to them that it looks like another feature size will have capacity much sooner than 180nm... say 40nm or 65nm.
What, if any, are the technological issues preventing the 180nm chip from being made as-is on a 40nm or 65nm process, to provide extra capacity?
(Economic issues are a separate nail in the coffin: maybe the cost per unit area is 2-3x as much on those smaller process nodes and it makes no sense, but humor me for a second.)