.
The storm has arrived.
The most intuitive reaction was Fang Zhuo's frequently interrupted meetings. Those phone calls came straight to him like crackling raindrops. A cell phone here had just finished calling, and there was another call coming from the secretary's cell phone over there. The two phones had no sound.
, Qiu Ciyun needed to answer the phone again.
A meeting often goes on one by one, and the messages from suppliers, collaborators, administrative leaders, etc. that come through the mobile phone all reflect the severity of this storm.
For three consecutive days from the 27th to the 1st, Fang Zhuo had figured out the trick. After all, meetings at night could be quieter.
However, it is stormy outside. As the most direct parties involved, Bingxin's top decision-makers are generally very calm. Qiu Ciyun, Hu Zhengming, Liang Mengsong and others have long been mentally prepared. Sooner or later, they will inevitably have to face it.
The element of geopolitics.
In other words, this element has always existed, but now it has become a powerful first choice.
"The current situation is actually relatively acceptable. What we need to worry about are the subsequent additional measures."
When the sporadic meeting ended, the two CEOs plus the CTO and Chairman Fang Zhuo met again for a small meeting. Qiu Ciyun came up and gave such a staged judgment.
Fang Zhuo said "hmm" and confirmed: "There will definitely be additional ones, and we are also observing the situation over there."
"16nm will be a competitive manufacturing process from this year to next year. Taiwan Note has not yet launched large-scale mass production of 16nm. Well, it may not be far away, but Samsung, UMC, and GlobalFoundries have to wait a while.
Wait, the follow-up 10nm will take time, no matter how early it is, it will have to be..." Qiu Ciyun thought in his mind and said with certainty, "It will have to be 17 years."
There is less than one month left in Q1 of 2015, and there are still only two companies in the world with 14/16nm production capacity: Ice Core and Intel.
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 increase production capacity and optimize the process.
According to Ice Core's original R&D progress, it will be the first half of 2017 at the earliest before it can hope to launch the more advanced 10nm.
In other words, the 16nm of ice core still has a very good shelf life of at least two years.
Fang Zhuo took 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 plan to expand to 10nm using DUV. Intel's transition plan using DUV+SAQP is feasible. Although the method is complicated and the cost is high, it is good for us.
It is a good choice within the scope of technical and cost feasibility.”
The solution of deep ultraviolet lithography plus self-aligned quadruple patterning technology comes from Intel's exploration of the limits of the manufacturing process. Hu Zhengming and Liang Mengsong basically confirmed the feasibility after exchanging and cooperating with Intel on FinFET.
He thought for a while and added: "Considering Intel's division of process nodes and actual transistor density, I think 10nm is not the limit of the DUV+SAQP solution, and the feasibility of 7nm is also very high."
Just like Intel's 14nm and Ice Core'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. There is a 25% gap between the two processes.
At the same stage of the node, 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 Ice Core.
Fang Zhuo asked with concern: "Does Intel also use this solution when making 10nm and 7nm?"
"It depends on what they mean..." Liang Mengsong did not expect Mr. Fang to ask such a question. He paused and thought, and replied, "The reason why it is called a transitional plan is because the maturity of EUV needs to be solved. Intel's 10nm and 7nm will probably use this.
EUV should be introduced anyway.”
Fang Zhuo let out a "tsk" sound.
Hu Zhengming couldn't help but laugh and said: "EUV is better, right, Mr. Fang, it would be good if it can be used."
"Indeed, some of them are useful," Fang Zhuo said. "In terms of manufacturing process alone, our situation is not that bad."
Hu Zhengming babbled: "Yes, this is what our Academician Liang has worked so hard for."
Because Ice Core has seized FinFET's 16nm across generations, it can now be relatively calm in the process even if it encounters severe restrictions.
The industry's definition of advanced technology now uses 28nm as the dividing point. Before it is a mature technology, and what follows is naturally an advanced technology.
Not to mention the 16nm of ice core, which is the most advanced among the advanced.
It is precisely because of this advanced nature that there is no shortage of orders for ice cores. Even if they are supplied entirely to the domestic market, production capacity can be filled. However, the upper limit has been weakened.
The rapid development of ice cores in the past few years has benefited from extensive cooperation in the global market and supply chain. This is a proven and effective system.
But in the future, this system needs to be verified again in China, because everyone will not stop and the ice core 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 Meilican. In the future, Meilican will definitely expand to a wider area, and it will also include imports. I have no further news yet. If it is really not possible, then I will suffer for a while."
brother."
Once the scope of restrictions expands, the situation faced by 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, "If necessary, take apart the machine from your brother, evenly distribute the materials, and get over 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 have the ability to solve some problems, and it will be fine slowly." Hu Zhengming said, "It depends on when the core material can make a breakthrough. The time for 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 our 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. Instead... 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 millions of years." Fang Zhuo shrugged, "There are big ways to play, and there are small ways to play. Don't worry, if you can't be the world's Yike, then just be the domestic Nokia."
This chapter has been completed!