Use a copper-clad board (mostly PCB copper-clad board) to print the circuit diagram on the copper-clad board with a printer, then use an engraving machine to engrave according to the printed circuit diagram, and finally solder the relevant electronic components.
The same goes for chips.
The function of a photolithography machine is similar to a printing machine.
It's just that the size of the chip is too small and requires special printing.
The specific method is to cover a layer of photoresist on the metal (usually silicon crystal) and then use light to erode the photoresist according to a certain circuit diagram.
Light can corrode photoresist, but cannot corrode metal, so the wafer (silicon crystal) is covered with a layer of "circuit diagram".
So how can we get the circuit diagram onto the photoresist?
The shape of the circuit is first drawn on a relatively large reticle, and then the circuit pattern is reduced to a small size through a lens, and then illuminated on a metal plate coated with photoresist (the so-called wafer).
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The machine used in this process is a photolithography machine.
The complexity of the instrument is far beyond people's imagination. The most advanced lithography machine manufacturer in the world is ASML (Advaor Material Lithography) of the Netherlands. It can be said that this is the only relatively mature lithography machine in the world.
company.
Because ASML occupies more than 80% of the global market share.
The remaining market share basically belongs to Toyo. Toyo's Nikon and Canon are not just camera companies, but have quite impressive IC technology, including photolithography machine technology.
Of course, low-end photolithography machine manufacturers include some brands from South Korea.
Therefore, larger chip production companies must find ASML.
Moreover, the price of the other party's lithography machines is not cheap, basically tens of millions of dollars to more than 100 million dollars, and there is no bargaining.
Of course, ASML's technology was not developed by a Dutch technology team or developed in the Netherlands, but was completed through technical cooperation with the United States, the Netherlands, Germany and other countries, and product accessories are also distributed in these countries.
Therefore, the shareholders behind ASML include Capital International, BlackRock Group, Intel, Sanxing, Tire Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., etc., and most of the capital comes from the United States.
Therefore, in this case, advanced photolithography machines will not be sold to Xia Guo Technology Enterprises.
Xiaxin International was able to purchase lithography machines through some of the team's connections, but this is not a general situation, but a special case.
After all, the founders and team of Xiaxin International are all from TiMC, and their relationship with ASML is pretty good.
After the wafer is covered with a circuit pattern by a photolithography machine, it enters the etching machine process.
The etching machine uses chemicals to etch the areas not covered by the photoresist so that the crystal surface can become the shape we want. This is how the chip is produced step by step.
This process corresponds to an etching machine, and the technical difficulty is much less than that of a photolithography machine.
After the establishment of Xiawei Semiconductor, the company quickly became the world's top etching machine company because of the excellent technology of Yin Shen's team.
Chen Xiao feels that he can handle Xiaxin International and Xiawei Semiconductor.
There is not much of a problem in producing mobile phone chips, but the size and power consumption of the chips may be larger than those of Nokia and Motorola, which are popular on the market.
But Chen Xiao can solve the problem with batteries.
In fact, 2004 was the most outstanding year for Xia Xin International.
This year, Xia Xin International has been able to mass-produce 110-nanometer chips, while Tire Electromechanical's 90-nanometer chips at this time were actually only one year apart in technology.
However, it was precisely because of Xia Xin International’s rapid development that TiMC and the American capital behind it became nervous and immediately launched an attack on Xia Xin International.
The best weapon is of course to infringe on intellectual property rights.
The founder and CEO of Xia Xin International is Zhang Jing, a patriotic man who once worked for Tibetan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and the senior team also came from Tibetan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
This is hard to explain.
Everyone knows the subsequent plot. Xia Xin International lost the lawsuit and paid TMC US$200 million in cash and 10% of its equity. Zhang Jing left Xia Xin International.
Later, the top management of Xiaxin International was in turmoil and had no interest in scientific research.
When it stabilized, the United States also realized the importance of high-end technology products such as chips, and blocked high-end equipment for chip production and research and development. Xiaxin International was also unable to obtain higher-end production equipment from the West, including high-end photolithography machines.
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By the time Xia Xin International reacted, it was already too late.
Xia Xin International's chip production technology and international level are also growing.
It is also for this reason that Chen Xiao is not willing to cooperate with TiMC.
The purpose of TiMC doing business with mainlanders is to make money, not to help you develop.
Xia Xin International is a living example.
After helping you develop, how do you make money on your own?
If I can make money and kill you at the same time, of course I'll be happy to do it.
But in 2004, the best moment in the history of Xiaxin International was also the best moment for Xiawei Semiconductor. There was no problem in getting chips from them.
Changtian Technology can produce mobile phone chips. Even if these chips are a bit confusing, they can be used and can meet the needs of consumers. Then Chen Xiao can gain influence and solve current problems.
Moreover, Chen Xiao believes that relying on the current level of his own integrated circuit LV12, he should be able to help these two companies.
Chen Xiao said to Wang Yu: "We will produce it."
"You immediately prepare the relevant production data of Pangu chips, and we will go to the Shanghai stock market in a week."
Wang Yu didn't know what the boss' purpose was, and he also knew that Changtian Technology didn't have any equipment to produce chips.
But as a subordinate and the team leader of the chip laboratory, Wang Yu chose to act according to the boss's orders.
After talking to Wang Yu about the matter, Chen Xiao had a good breakfast.
Changtian Technology Headquarters hired a special chef last year, not to mention the taste is pretty good.
After the meal, Chen Xiao returned to the office and worked with Song Yi to prepare for the key work that needed to be done for this trip to the Shanghai stock market.
Wang Xiang and Li Liang, Vice President of Huawei, attended the test ceremony of Mozi Communications Company's 3G network in Jiangzhou.
In the case where mobile, telecommunications and other companies have not yet reached an agreement on the distribution of interests in domestic 3G application rules.
The country also feels that it cannot wait any longer.
Therefore, it is agreed that Changtian Technology will test the use of 3G network in Jiangzhou.
This time, no company from China Mobile and China Unicom participated in the test, which was independently operated by Mozi Communications, a subsidiary of Changtian Technology.
All 3G base stations are built by Huawei. Because they are for testing, Changtian Technology does not target all Jiangzhou users, but mainly targets the student user groups in Jiangzhou University Town.
The student user group accepts new things quickly and is willing to cooperate with Changtian Technology Company in collecting data, so it is a good test sample.
Mozi Communications directly opened the communication company next door to China Mobile and China Unicom, and announced that 3G users who accepted the test would receive a free mobile phone card, and would receive a monthly package of 50M data traffic, 300 minutes of calls, and 100 text messages.
Xia Guo reluctantly ushered in the partial 3G era.