Chip manufacturers to cooperate in 45-inch-wafer technology

Chip manufacturers to cooperate in 45-inch-wafer technology

The U.S. state of New York, where IBM's chip plant in East Fishkill, the Albany Nanotech Complex and soon Globalfoundries' Fab 8 are located, is pleased with further investments: the rival chip maker Globalfoundries, IBM, Intel, Samsung and TSMC together invest 4.4 billion U.S. dollars in the development of manufacturing technology of semiconductor devices on silicon wafers 450 millimeters in diameter.


Inspection System for 45-inch wafer of Nanophotonics.
Image: Nanophotonics Ltd. The change from the previously processed in high volume production of logic and memory chips, silicon wafers with a diameter of 30 cm (12 inches) on the 45-inch wafer has been controversial for years because very large investments are needed and many technical problems must be solved. Proponents - including market leader Intel - keep the move as necessary to keep Moore's Law can. The transition from 20 - to 30-inch wheels began about 10 years ago, yet today many products that require relatively little chip area or run in smaller quantities, manufactured on 200-mm-(8-inch) plants.

The governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, presented the total of about 6900 [6] new jobs over the next five years in the foreground. The State of New York will pay but no direct subsidies to the companies mentioned, but invest 400 million U.S. dollars in the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) in Albany, which belongs to the University of Ney York (SUNY).

Some of the participating companies have teamed up to 450 Global Consortium. They want their cooperation, even smaller suppliers to develop the necessary machinery and equipment allow. Sematech, the industry association participates in the International Sematech Manufacturing Initiative (ISMI) to help coordinate the transition to the new manufacturing process. The European institute IMEC in Belgium is also pursuing a 450-mm development program. German companies, such as the Mainz GmbH Nanophotonics provide facilities for 450-mm fabs, such as inspection equipment.