Chapter 974: Finished product: Carbon-based driver IC chip!
When he came to Jinling, all Ren Zhengfei expected was to make a finished chip integrating hundreds of thousands or millions of carbon-based transistors.
After all, there are many companies or institutions researching carbon-based chips. Putting aside foreign companies and laboratories, there are countless companies in China alone.
For example, the Institute of Semiconductor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and two top universities, Shuimu and Peking University, also have different carbon-based chips and carbon-based semiconductor projects.
In addition, there are state-owned enterprises, private enterprises and R&D units such as Zhongke Electric, China Microelectronics Corporation, Yinlong Co., Ltd., etc., who are also studying.
Huawei itself, including Huawei, is deploying in the field of carbon-based chips, with an annual investment of at least one billion in the field of carbon-based semiconductors.
But the fact is that before the emergence of the high-density carbon nanotube array sorting results of Xinghai Research Institute, it can be said that there were no outstanding results in the field of carbon-based chips.
The best thing is that the research team at 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 shrinking array architecture, which can process multiple computing tasks simultaneously like an assembly line, greatly improving computing speed and efficiency.
But the integration of 3,000 carbon transistors is not even scratching the surface in the field of chips.
If today's mature silicon-based chips are compared to a big tree that can support the sky, then the carbon-based TPU chip studied by the Peking University team is like a seed that fell from the big tree and sprouted out of the ground.
So before coming, what Ren Zhengfei expected was that Xinghai Research Institute could integrate hundreds of thousands or millions of carbon-based transistor chips.
After all, compared to a newly germinated seed, a chip of this level already has a certain commercial value.
No matter in the fields of power management, home appliance control, LED lighting, industrial control and automotive electronics, even though the number of transistors is small, it still meets the needs of these fields for low cost, low power consumption and high reliability.
As long as a finished product of this level is produced, the seed that once sprouted will grow into a small tree, which will continue to absorb nutrients and sunlight, grow rapidly, and compete with the established silicon-based semiconductor market.
However, what he didn't expect was that while he was still looking forward to chips with hundreds of thousands or millions of carbon-based transistors...
Xinghai Research Institute... has already achieved the integration of carbon-based chips with tens of millions of transistors per square millimeter.
This result simply exceeded everyone's expectations and was so shocking.
.......
After a simple breakfast, Ren Zhengfei asked Xu Chuan on the spot to take him to the carbon-based chip research laboratory to see the results.
Naturally, Xu Chuan would not refuse this kind of thing.
But before they could set off, another person arrived at the villa complex at the foot of Purple Mountain.
"Academician Xu, good morning!"
In front of the courtyard door of the villa, Xu Chuan, who had just put on his laptop 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 head of science and technology who Xu Chuan also called yesterday.
Seeing Mr. Yuan, Xu Chuan smiled, nodded, and said hello: "Yuan Mr., 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 couldn't spare the time, I wouldn't be the one here."
After saying hello with a smile, his eyes fell on Ren Zhengfei who was standing aside, and he stretched out his hand to shake it.
"Mr. Ren? I didn't expect you to be here too."
With a smile on his face, Ren Zhengfei stretched out his hand to shake it and said hello: "Hello, Yuan Qian."
Warwick has a lot of contacts with science and technology, including cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, such as the Institute of Semiconductors of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Information and Communications Technology, and other institutions.
However, the number of times he met this scientific and technological leader was not too many.
After all, he is a leader in science and technology, a real leader.
Even if he is the president of a large group like Warwick, he is nothing to the other party.
Although Warwick is not small in size, if it were placed within the system, it would at least be at a senior level.
But there is also a gap between the same levels, and it is not small.
After saying hello with a smile, Yuan Zhouli looked at Xu Chuan and asked curiously: "Are you ready to go out?"
Xu Chuan nodded and said with a smile: "Mr. Ren and I are going to have a look at the carbon-based chip laboratory. Would Yuan Geng want to come with us?"
Yuan Zhouli said with a smile: "Of course, I am here just for this matter."
Xu Chuan smiled and said: "Then let's come together. Zheng Hai just happened to be here too."
While talking, the vehicle arranged by Zheng Hai had also arrived. The group of people boarded the vehicle and drove towards the carbon-based chip laboratory.
.......
In the laboratory, Xu Chuan took over two protective boxes made of polycarbonate material from Zhao Guanggui, which contained two carbon-based chips. After handing them to Yuan Zhouli and Ren Zhengfei respectively, Xu Chuan said.
"This is our latest finished chip."
"Xiongxin No. 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, with nothing else in his eyes, as if this was him
Same all over the 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 with a 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, and 56 nanometer processes, 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!
Carefully taking out the carbon-based chip from the protective box, Yuan Zhouli measured it carefully for a while before speaking curiously.
"Why do I feel that this chip...is a bit light?"
"Hmm..." After thinking for a while, Mr. 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 for carrying 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, for the convenience of research, this type is naturally used in the laboratory.
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.
Naturally, it is 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 functionality or few functions 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 Research Institute, Commercial Institute 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 access control and verifying the security, the group first walked into a cubicle, disinfected and cleaned, changed protective clothing, put on shoe covers, masks and other equipment, and then walked into an open laboratory.
In the laboratory, a row of instruments is placed on the experimental table made of ceramic plates, and there are several people wearing white coats, gloves and goggles who are busy inside.
Seeing the group of people walking in, the person in charge of the laboratory quickly came over and said hello.
"Academician Xu, Professor Zhao..."
Zhao Guanggui, who was leading the group, nodded and introduced: "This is the person in charge of Product Laboratory No. 2, Researcher Li Ming. He is mainly responsible for the testing and research of a power management chip."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! After introducing each other, he looked at Li Ming and said with a smile: "Bring over some power management chips that have passed the test."
"Okay, wait a minute."
After responding, Li Ming quickly walked to the locker next to the laboratory, took out several packaged 'power management chips' and handed them over.
After taking the chip smoothly, Xu Chuan handed it to Yuan Zhouli and Ren Zhengfei respectively according to the title posted above, looked at Li Ming with a smile, and said.
"Researcher Li Ming, please help briefly introduce these functional chips."
"no problem."
Nodding, clearing his throat, Li Ming quickly said: "These chips are all products that just passed the test yesterday, mainly LCD/LED driver chips."
"...Using parallel connection to drive four LED chips, the input voltage range is 2.7V~5.5V, which can provide about 20mA current for each output."
"In addition, these driver chips have thermal management system features that can protect any output pins from short circuits, and the internally embedded soft-start circuit can also prevent current overshoot during startup."
"And both of them can use a simple serial control interface to enable, shut down, and 32-level logarithmic scale brightness control functions of the chip..."
"Theoretically, the gap between these current carbon-based LCD/LED driver chips and the silicon-based LCD/LED driver chips on the market is not big, and they can completely replace each other...at least in some areas!"
"Even in some aspects, such as response 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 R&D and design of carbon-based LCD/LED driver chips, including testing.
To be able to do this in a completely new field, and to produce products that can compete with silicon-based chips in just one year, is something that cannot be solved by mere imitation.
At least in the field of carbon-based LCD/LED driver chips, they have initially formed their own R&D design ideas!
Although it has just started, with the advantages of carbon-based transistors, the chips they prepared are enough to replace traditional silicon-based chips.
At least in the field of some driver IC chips, this can be said!