Integrating High Speed IP at 5nm

Integrating High Speed IP at 5nm
by Pavan Patel on 11-10-2022 at 6:00 am

Figure 1

Introduction:

The advancements in deep submicron technology and adding multiple functionalities to reduce costs combined with scaling existing operations means that SoC designs become ever more complex. The biggest driving factors to go below the 16nm process node are the decrease in power and the increase in performance … Read More


Does SMIC have 7nm and if so, what does it mean

Does SMIC have 7nm and if so, what does it mean
by Scotten Jones on 09-07-2022 at 10:00 am

SMIC 7nm

Recently TechInsights analyzed a Bitcoin Miner chip fabbed at SMIC and declared SMIC has a 7nm process. There has been some debate as to whether the SMIC process is really 7nm and what it means if it is 7nm. I wanted to discuss the case for and against the process being 7nm, and what I think it means.

First off, I want to say I am not going … Read More


SEMICON West 2022 and the Imec Roadmap

SEMICON West 2022 and the Imec Roadmap
by Scotten Jones on 08-03-2022 at 10:00 am

ITFUSA2022 LucVandenhove Page 093

SEMICON West 2022 was held from July 12th to 14th at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

On Monday the 11th before the show, Imec held a technology forum at the Marriott Marquee right around the corner from the Moscone center. In recent years the Imec forums have shifted away from the process technology I cover to more of a system and… Read More


IEDM 2022 is shaping up

IEDM 2022 is shaping up
by Scotten Jones on 07-17-2022 at 10:00 am

68th iedm color

IEDM is one of the premiere conferences for the latest information on leading edge semiconductor technology. The 68th annual International Electron Devices Meeting will be held December 3rd through 7th at the San Francisco Hilton.

The paper submission deadline is July 14, 2022, and the late-news deadline is August 22, 2022. … Read More


ASML EUV Update at SPIE

ASML EUV Update at SPIE
by Scotten Jones on 06-24-2022 at 6:00 am

12051 4 SPIE2022 Smeets 0.33 NA EUV systems for High Volume Manufacturing Page 07

At the 2022 SPIE Advanced Lithography Conference, ASML presented an update on EUV. I recently had a chance to go over the presentations with Mike Lercel of ASML. The following is a summary of our discussions.

0.33 NA

The 0.33 NA EUV systems are the production workhorse systems for leading edge lithography today. 0.33 NA systems are… Read More


Intel 4 Deep Dive

Intel 4 Deep Dive
by Scotten Jones on 06-13-2022 at 6:00 am

Figure 1

As I previously wrote about here, Intel is presenting their Intel 4 process at the VLSI Technology conference. Last Wednesday Bernhard Sell (Ben) from Intel gave the press a briefing on the process and provided us with early access to the paper (embargoed until Sunday 6/12).

“Intel 4 CMOS Technology Featuring Advanced FinFET TransistorsRead More


Intel to present Intel 4 process at the VLSI Technology Symposium

Intel to present Intel 4 process at the VLSI Technology Symposium
by Scotten Jones on 05-20-2022 at 8:00 am

VLSI Symposium 2022 SemiWiki 1

The VLSI Symposium on Technology & Circuits will be held in Hawaii from June 12th to June 17th. You can register for the conference here.

The tip sheet for the conference has been released and one thing that caught my eye is some data from the Intel 4 paper that Intel will be presenting at the conference.

Intel’s old roadmap had 14nm,… Read More


Intel and the EUV Shortage

Intel and the EUV Shortage
by Scotten Jones on 04-13-2022 at 10:00 am

Slide1

In my “The EUV Divide and Intel Foundry Services” article available here, I discussed the looming EUV shortage. Two days ago, Intel announced their first EUV tool installed at their new Fab 34 in Ireland is a tool they moved from Oregon. This is another indication of the scarcity of EUV tools.

I have been tracking EUV system production… Read More


Can Intel Catch TSMC in 2025?

Can Intel Catch TSMC in 2025?
by Scotten Jones on 04-11-2022 at 6:00 am

Slide6

At the ISS conference held from April 4th through 6th I presented on who I thought would have the leading logic technology in 2025. The following is a write up of that presentation.

ISS was a virtual conference in 2021 and I presented on who currently had logic leadership and declared TSMC the clear leader. Following that conference,… Read More


Intel 2022 Investor Meeting

Intel 2022 Investor Meeting
by Scotten Jones on 02-21-2022 at 6:00 am

Figure 1 Process Innovations

Last Thursday Intel held their investors meeting, in this write up I wanted to focus on my areas of coverage/expertise, process technology and manufacturing.

Technology Development presented by Ann Kelleher

Last year Intel presented their Intel Accelerated plan and, in this meeting, we got a review of where Intel stands on that… Read More