Great Country Academician

When he came to Jinling, Ren Zhengfei only expected to make a finished chip with hundreds of thousands or millions of carbon-based transistors.

After all, there are many companies or institutions researching carbon-based chips. Apart from foreign companies and laboratories, there are countless companies in China alone.

For example, the Semiconductor Research Institute of Huake Institute, Shuimu and Peking University, two top universities, also have different carbon-based chips and carbon-based semiconductor projects.

In addition, there are also state-owned enterprises, private enterprises and R\u0026D units such as Zhongke Electric, China Micro, and Yinlong Shares.

Including Huawei itself, there are deployments in the field of carbon-based chips, and the annual investment in the field of carbon-based semiconductors is at least more than 1 billion.

But the fact is that before the high-density carbon nanotube array sorting results appeared at Xinghai Research Institute, the research in the field of carbon-based chips can be said to have not produced any outstanding results.

The best is that the research team of Peking University has made a major breakthrough in this field and developed the world's first tensor processing unit (TPU) based on carbon nanotube transistors.

This TPU computing chip is composed of 3,000 carbon nanotube transistors and adopts a design called contraction array architecture, which can process multiple computing tasks simultaneously like a pipeline, greatly improving computing speed and efficiency.

But the integration of 3,000 carbon transistors is not even a surface in the field of chips.

If the current mature silicon-based chips are compared to a tree that supports the sky, then the carbon-based TPU chip studied by the Peking University team is like a seed that has fallen from the tree and has just sprouted and drilled out of the ground.

So before coming, what Ren Zhengfei expected was that the Xinghai Research Institute could integrate hundreds of thousands or millions of carbon-based transistor chips.

After all, compared to a newly sprouted seed, this level of chip already has a certain commercial value.

Whether in power management, home appliance control, LED lighting, industrial control and automotive electronics, although the number of transistors is small, it also meets the needs of these fields for low cost, low power consumption and high reliability.

As long as this level of finished products is made, the seeds that had just sprouted will grow into a small tree, which will be able to continuously absorb nutrients and sunlight, grow rapidly, and compete with the old silicon-based semiconductor market.

However, what he didn't expect was that when he was still looking forward to chips with hundreds of thousands or millions of carbon-based transistors.

Xinghai Research Institute has already achieved carbon-based chips with tens of millions of transistors per square millimeter.

This achievement is beyond everyone's expectations and is too shocking.

After a simple breakfast, Ren Zhengfei asked Xu Chuan to take him to the carbon-based chip research laboratory to see the results.

Xu Chuan would naturally not refuse such a thing.

However, before they set off, another person rushed to the villa complex at the foot of Zijin Mountain.

"Academician Xu, good morning!"

In front of the courtyard door of the villa, Xu Chuan, who had just brought his notebook and was about to go to the Qixia District Carbon-based Chip Laboratory with Ren Zhengfei from Warwick, heard a familiar voice.

The person who came was none other than Yuan Zhouli, the director of the Department of Science and Technology, whom Xu Chuan had also called yesterday to notify.

Seeing this director Yuan, Xu Chuan smiled and nodded, saying hello: "Yuan Zhu, I didn't expect you to come here in person."

Yuan Zhouli said with a smile: "The news you gave yesterday was really shocking. If the leader really couldn't spare the time, it wouldn't be me who came."

After smiling and saying hello, his eyes fell on Ren Zhengfei who was standing aside, and he stretched out his hand to shake.

"Mr. Ren? I didn't expect you to be here too."

Ren Zhengfei stretched out his hand with a smile on his face, shook it, and said hello: "Yuan Zhu, hello."

Hua Wei has a lot of dealings with the Department of Science and Technology, including the Huake Institute, such as the Huake Institute of Semiconductors, the Institute of Information and Communications, and other institutions.

However, he has not met the director of the Department of Science and Technology many times.

After all, he is the head of the Department of Science and Technology, a real big leader.

Even if he is the president of a large group like Huawei, he is nothing in front of the other party.

Although Huawei is not small in size, if it is placed in the system, it is at least a regular level.

But there is also a gap between the same level, and it is not small.

After smiling and saying hello, Yuan Zhouli looked at Xu Chuan and asked curiously: "Are you going out?"

Xu Chuan nodded and smiled: "Mr. Ren and I are going to go to the carbon-based chip laboratory to take a look. Does Yuan Chu want to join us?"

Yuan Zhouli smiled and said: "Of course, I came here for this matter."

Xu Chuan smiled and said: "Then let's go together, Zheng Hai is here too."

While talking, the vehicle arranged by Zheng Hai has also arrived. The group got on the car and drove towards the carbon-based chip laboratory.

In the laboratory, after taking two protective boxes made of polycarbonate material from Zhao Guanggui, which contained two carbon-based chips, and handing them to Yuan Zhouli and Ren Zhengfei respectively, Xu Chuan spoke.

"This is our latest finished chip."

"Xiongxin 05, an experimental chip, uses 28-nanometer multiple exposure technology to integrate 10 million carbon-based transistors per square millimeter."

Just like holding a fragile rare treasure or a bright gem, Ren Zhengfei carefully held the protective box containing the carbon-based chip. There was nothing else in his eyes, as if this was him. Same as the whole world.

Beside him, the expression on Yuan Zhouli's face, who was advanced in science and technology, was not much better, full of excitement, excitement and shock.

“It’s so charming.”

After staring at the chip in his hand for a long time, Ren Zhengfei couldn't help but sigh.

Xu Chuan smiled and said, "Of course, this is the crystallization of wisdom and the future of the entire human civilization!"

After a slight pause, he continued: "Although Xiongxin 05 is currently unable to compare with the performance of high-end low-nanometer process silicon-based chips."

"But in theory, the potential of chips made of carbon-based transistors far exceeds that of chips made of silicon-based transistors. Whether it is in terms of computing performance or the minimum engraving process of the transistors, it is unimaginable for silicon-based chips. of."

"According to the current research progress in the carbon-based chip laboratory, within half a year, we can improve the preparation technology of carbon-based chips to about 23 nanometers, and within a year, we can upgrade this process to 20 nanometers."

"Although this is still far from the 7nm and 5nm of silicon-based chips."

"But with the superior physical properties of carbon-based transistors, I can say without exaggeration that the performance of carbon-based chips in the 20-nanometer process is comparable to the 13-nanometer or even lower precision processes of silicon-based chips."

The nanoscale order of silicon-based chips is roughly divided into three categories.

Processes above 28 nanometers are low-end processes. For example, 130 nanometer, 90 nanometer, 56 nanometer processes, and any process higher than 28 nanometers are low-end processes.

Between 13 nanometers and 28 nanometers, it is a high-end process.

The precision process is a process below 13 nanometers, such as 9 nanometers, 7 nanometers, 5 nanometers, and the most precise ones are 3 nanometers and 2 nanometers.

The 2-nanometer process technology currently launched by TSMC is the most advanced precision process.

With the 20nm process, the performance is comparable to the precision process chips of 13nm or even lower nanometer level. The potential of carbon-based chips is almost unlimited!

After carefully taking out the carbon-based chip from the protective box, Yuan Zhouli measured it carefully for a while and then spoke curiously.

"Why do I feel like this chip is a little light?"

"Yeah." After thinking for a while, Elder Yuan found an adjective and continued: "It's like holding a feather, almost weightless."

"And it looks really thin. It feels about the same thickness as a brown paper bag that holds documents."

Hearing this, Xu Chuan smiled and explained: "This is also one of the advantages of carbon-based chips. Xiongxin 05 uses carbon nanotubes as the main material."

"Carbon nanotubes not only have excellent mechanical properties, but also have a unique structure that allows carbon-based chips to be relatively lightweight while maintaining high strength and rigidity."

"Of course, this is also related to the fact that the chip has not been completely encapsulated. Without encapsulation, the body of the chip only has such a thin layer."

For chips, unpackaged chip wafers are also called bare wafers. They are actually very fragile as a whole and are easily affected by external moisture, vibration, etc.

However, in order to facilitate research, the laboratory naturally uses this type.

When it is subsequently wrapped with materials such as epoxy resin, it will look no different from a silicon-based chip.

"Right."

Speaking of chip packaging, Xu Chuan remembered another product he saw in the laboratory yesterday, looked at Yuan Zhouli and Ren Zhengfei with a smile, and said.

"Regarding the packaging and application of carbon-based chips, the laboratory already has some finished products."

"Well, it's mainly about circuit control, communications, sensors, etc. Do you want to go and have a look together?"

The carbon-based chip laboratory can produce a chip integrating 10 million transistors per square millimeter. The research on chips has actually entered the mid-to-late stage.

What needs to be done in the follow-up is to continue the compression and engraving process, research on low-nanometer carbon-based chips, circuit design, etc.

But 28nm, including processes above 28nm, actually already has the potential for widespread application.

For example, fields such as power management, home appliances, LED lighting, and industrial control all require low-end chips with high nanometer processes to control.

It is naturally impossible for the laboratory to ignore these directions.

Therefore, in addition to 28-nanometer server chips, many relatively mature low-end product chips with single or low functionality have been produced here.

"certainly."

Hearing what Xu Chuan said, Yuan Zhouli nodded quickly. The carbon-based chip was the purpose of his urgent trip from the capital this time. Naturally, he wanted to find out the extent of the research here.

If he has even finished the finished product, then what he should be thinking about is not helping Xinghai Research Institute's carbon-based chip research and development, but promoting it!

That’s right, it’s promotion!

Of course, there will definitely be subsidies and help, but more importantly, if Xinghai Research Institute has been able to prepare finished carbon-based chips for commercial use, then he will write a report as soon as possible after returning.

Then contact the National Development and Reform Commission, Industrial and Commercial Government and other institutions and departments to jointly promote carbon-based chips!

For China, a huge market with a population of more than one billion, even the low-end chip market is a field worth hundreds of billions!

With the two of them, Xu Chuan came to another research area of ​​the carbon-based chip laboratory.

After swiping the door to verify the security, the group first walked into a compartment, disinfected and cleaned, changed into protective clothing, put on shoe covers and masks, and then walked into an open laboratory.

In the laboratory, a row of instruments were placed on the laboratory table made of ceramic plates, and there were several people wearing white coats, gloves and goggles who were busy.

Seeing the group of people coming in, the person in charge of this laboratory hurried over and said hello.

"Academician Xu, Professor Zhao"

Zhao Guanggui, who led a group of people, nodded and introduced: "This is the head of Product Laboratory No. 2, Researcher Li Ming. He is mainly responsible for the testing and research of power management chips."

After introducing each other, he looked at Li Ming and said with a smile: "Bring a few power management chips that have passed the test."

"Okay, wait a moment."

After responding, Li Ming quickly walked to the locker beside the laboratory, took out a few packaged "power management chips" from it, and handed them over.

After taking the chips, Xu Chuan handed them to Yuan Zhouli and Ren Zhengfei respectively according to the titles on them, looked at Li Ming with a smile, and said.

"Researcher Li Ming, please help to briefly introduce these functional chips."

"No problem."

Nodding and clearing his throat, Li Ming quickly said: "These chips are products that just passed the test yesterday, mainly LCD/LED driver chips."

". It uses parallel connection to drive four LED chips, with an input voltage range of 2.7V~5.5V, and can provide about 20mA current for each output."

"In addition, these driver chips have the characteristics of a thermal management system, which can protect any output pin from short circuits, and the internal embedded soft start circuit can also prevent Current overshoot at startup."

"And both of them can use simple serial control interface to enable, shut down and 32-level logarithmic scale brightness control functions on the chip."

"In theory, the gap between these carbon-based LCD/LED driver chips and the silicon-based LCD/LED driver chips sold on the market is not big, and they can completely replace each other in at least part of the field!"

"Even in some aspects, such as reaction speed, main control system, data conversion, etc., they are far superior to silicon-based driver IC chips of the same level!"

Speaking of this, Li Ming's tone of introduction was also full of pride.

He is responsible for the research and development and design of carbon-based LCD/LED driver chips, including testing.

Being able to do this in a brand new field and make products that can compete with silicon-based chips in just one year is not something that can be solved by simple imitation.

At least in the field of carbon-based LCD/LED driver chips, they have initially formed their own research and development design ideas!

Although they have just started, with the advantages of carbon-based transistors, the chips they prepare are enough to replace traditional silicon-based chips.

At least in some areas of driver IC chips, this can be said!