Reinventing the Millennium

The storm has arrived.

The most direct reaction is Fang Zhuo's frequently interrupted meetings. Those calls are like crackling raindrops. Just as one phone call ended, another call came in from the secretary's phone. The two phones were silent, and Qiu Ciyun needed to answer the phone again.

A meeting is often held in sections, and the news from suppliers, partners, administrative leaders and other parties transmitted through the phone all show the fierceness of this storm.

From the 27th to the 1st, for three consecutive days, Fang Zhuo has figured out the trick. After all, it is quieter to hold meetings at night.

However, the storm outside is gloomy. As the most direct party, the highest decision-making level of Bingxin is generally very calm. Qiu Ciyun, Hu Zhengming, Liang Mengsong and others have long been mentally prepared. Sooner or later, they will inevitably face the element of geopolitics.

In other words, this element has always existed, but now it has become a powerful first priority.

"The current situation is relatively acceptable. What we need to worry about is the subsequent additional measures."

After the meeting ended, the two CEOs, the CTO and the chairman Fang Zhuo met again for a small meeting. Qiu Ciyun came up and gave such a phased judgment.

Fang Zhuo said "hmm" and confirmed: "There will definitely be additional measures. They are also observing the situation."

"16nm will be a competitive manufacturing process from this year to next year. Taiwan Semiconductor has not yet entered large-scale mass production of 16nm. Well, it may not be far away, but Samsung, UMC, and GlobalFoundries have to wait. The subsequent 10nm will take time. No matter how early it is, it will be..." Qiu Ciyun calculated in his heart and said with certainty, "It will be 2017."

There is less than a month left in Q1 of 2015. Ice Core and Intel are still the only two companies in the world with 14/16nm production capacity.

This year's advanced wafer manufacturing process belongs to 14/16nm, and the FinFET introduced at this node has a lot of room for optimization. Next year will only be an increase in production capacity and process optimization.

According to Bingxin's original unaffected R\u0026D progress, it will be the first half of 2017 at the earliest to launch the more advanced 10nm.

In other words, Bingxin's 16nm still has a very good shelf life of at least two years.

Fang Zhuo drank a sip of tea and nodded slightly.

Liang Mengsong said at this time: "The good news is that even without EUV, we already have a solution to expand to 10nm using DUV. Intel's transition solution of DUV+SAQP is feasible. Although the method is complicated and the cost is high, it is a good choice for us within the technical and cost feasible range."

The solution of deep ultraviolet lithography plus self-aligned quadruple patterning technology comes from Intel's exploration of the limits of manufacturing processes. Hu Zhengming and Liang Mengsong basically confirmed the feasibility after communicating and cooperating with Intel on FinFET.

He thought for a while and added: "Considering Intel's division of process nodes and the actual transistor density, I think 10nm is not the limit of the DUV+SAQP solution, and 7nm is also very feasible."

Just like Intel's 14nm and Bingxin's 16nm, the two are at the same stage, but the former's transistor density is about 37.5 million per square millimeter, while the latter's is 30 million, and there is a 25% gap between the two processes.

At the same stage of nodes, Intel is indeed stronger. Therefore, the expansion of Intel's DUV+SAQP solution on 10nm may look forward to other manufacturers' 7nm, but this requires further research and optimization by Bingxin.

Fang Zhuo asked with concern: "Does Intel use this solution for its own 10nm and 7nm?"

"It depends on what they mean..." Liang Mengsong didn't expect Mr. Fang to ask such a question. He paused to think and replied, "The reason why it is called a transitional solution is because the maturity of EUV needs to be solved. Intel's 10nm will probably use this, and 7nm should introduce EUV anyway."

Fang Zhuo said "tsk".

Hu Zhengming couldn't help laughing and said, "EUV is still better, right, Mr. Fang? It's good if it can be used."

"Indeed, it's good if it can be used." Fang Zhuo said, "As for the process technology alone, our situation is not that bad."

Hu Zhengming pursed his lips: "Yes, this is what our Academician Liang worked hard for."

Because Bingxin has seized the 16nm of FinFET across generations, even if it encounters severe restrictions, it can now be relatively relaxed in the process.

The industry's definition of advanced technology now uses 28nm as the dividing point. Before it, it belongs to mature technology, and after it, it is naturally advanced technology.

Not to mention Bingxin's 16nm, which is the most advanced among the advanced.

It is precisely because of this advanced nature that Bingxin has no shortage of orders. Even if it is completely supplied to the domestic market, it can fill the production capacity, but the upper limit has been weakened.

The rapid development of Bingxin in the past few years has benefited from the extensive cooperation of the global market and supply chain. This is a proven and effective system.

But in the future, this system will need to be verified again in China, because no one will stop and ice core research still needs to move forward.

"BIS restricts American companies' exports to us. This aspect is okay. De-beautification is what we have been doing. European and Japanese manufacturers can ensure their competitiveness. The question is how will BIS's subsequent additional measures expand the scope? Once comprehensive restrictions are imposed, it will be a very serious challenge, and we need to ensure our minimum operation," Qiu Ciyun said seriously.

Fang Zhuo mused: "Now it is the export of Milica. In the future, Milica will inevitably expand to a wider area, and it will also include imports. I have no further news yet. If it is not possible, then I will suffer for a while." brother."

Once the restrictions expand, the situation facing the ice core will be very troublesome.

For example, ArF photoresist is one of the indispensable core materials for advanced process nodes, and Japanese companies monopolize more than 90% of the global market.

More importantly, it is a precision chemical material that is sensitive to light. Its shelf life is generally within six months, and it is difficult to stock up on it.

Once the supply of ice cores is cut off, production operations will be greatly affected.

"The core of the ice core is the same as the branches, right?" Qiu Ciyun joked, "When necessary, take apart the machine from your brother, evenly distribute the materials, and overcome the difficulties first."

Fang Zhuo nodded repeatedly, yes, yes.

Of course, this is mostly a joke. Bingxin is facing restrictions this time, and SMIC doesn’t know what will happen in the future. Its technology is not showing up now, but if it dismantles the machine and mixes the materials, it may not show up immediately. .

"It still depends on whether we can solve some problems, and we can do it slowly." Hu Zhengming said, "It depends on when the core material can make a breakthrough. The time of our process technology is left to everyone. of."

Today's situation has long been expected, and the issues in the upstream and downstream links have naturally been considered in detail. Core Materials Company is a technology subsidiary led by Bingxin and cooperating with Nanda Optoelectronics, Core Engraving Micro Materials and other companies to develop photoresist. I have received money from large funds and small funds, and I have made some progress.

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Zhang. I have to look back at his inspection status." Qiu Ciyun said.

Zhang Rujing became Bingxin's consultant in a low-key manner. Faced with Aramco's strict selection this time, he devoted himself to the inspection and integration of the industrial chain.

Qiu Ciyun added: "No matter what, our technology is advanced and the inventory is sufficient for the time being. Although the supplier's technical support needs to be reorganized, the ice core's combat effectiveness is still there. On the contrary... Mr. Fang, Yike The global market is bigger.”

Bingxin has anticipated today's situation and has been doing related work, including large and small funds, industrial integration, technical cooperation, and checking for deficiencies. Although it does face many problems, this Aramco selection is a bit of a stress test, and it will definitely Prompt the acceleration of a series of tasks.

However, Yike, which is fighting side by side with Bingxin, may face greater pressure due to its huge market and product performance.

"If a person dies and a bird looks up to the sky, he will not die for tens of thousands of years." Fang Zhuo shrugged, "There are big ways to play, and there are small ways to play small. Don't worry, if you can't be the world's Yike, then just be the domestic Nokia."