When discussing modern chip manufacturing technology, we often hear about "nanometer processes" such as the current 5nm and 3nm nodes.
But what do these numbers actually represent?
Recently, ASML, a leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer, released their EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography machine roadmap.
This move unveiled the process details and corresponding metal pitch of various foundries, shedding light on the actual state of their technologies.
There is a common misconception that "nanometer processes" directly refer to the size of the transistors in the chips.
In reality, these numbers do not accurately reflect the actual dimensions of the transistors.
Initially, the process number was indeed aligned with the gate length of the transistors—meaning the process number equaled the gate length.
However, from the 130nm to 28nm processes, the gate length became smaller than the indicated process number, indicating that gate length was no longer the sole measure of process advancement.
As technology evolved, the process numbers like 3nm and 5nm became more of a marketing term set by the manufacturers based on their technical progress and market strategy, rather than an exact technical parameter.
Therefore, these "nanometer processes" are more of a market expression than a precise technical descriptor.
ASML's EUV lithography technology plays a crucial role in current chip manufacturing.
Their recent roadmap disclosure detailed the metal pitch for different process nodes, revealing the true technical state of various foundries.
For example, the well-known 3nm process corresponds to a metal pitch of 23nm, and the 1nm process corresponds to an 18nm metal pitch.
These revelations show that the "nanometer process" numbers do not have direct comparative or measurement value in technical terms.
Instead, the actual metal pitch is a more accurate parameter reflecting the process's advancement and maturity.
In the semiconductor industry, the interplay between technology and market is highly complex.
Manufacturers often use the virtual "nanometer process" terms to highlight their latest capabilities to stay competitive and attract market attention.
While this can help them gain market share and investor interest, it also creates a gap between technical concepts and actual capabilities.
ASML's transparency in revealing the technical roadmap and associated parameters has significant implications for the industry.
It helps manufacturers and consumers better understand the technical essence behind various processes.
This transparency fosters competition and collaboration within the industry and helps consumers make more informed evaluations of product performance and cost-effectiveness.
In summary, understanding the complexity and reality behind chip manufacturing technology is more important than merely following the market "nanometer process" labels.
We hope to see more transparency and openness in the future as technology progresses and the market evolves.
This approach will enable consumers and investors to make informed choices based on real technical data.
When exploring and discussing chip manufacturing processes, we should focus more on the technological advancements and real-world applications rather than relying on superficial numbers and marketing terms.
Only in this way can we truly drive the sustained development and innovation of the semiconductor industry, contributing more significantly to global technological progress.
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