Semiconductors

This week ASML is making two very important announcements related to their progress with high numerical aperature extreme ultraviolet lithography (High-NA EUV). First up, the company's High-NA EUV prototype system at its fab in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, has printed the first 10nm patterns, which is a major milestone for ASML and their next-gen tools. Second, the company has also revealed that it's second High-NA EUV system is now out the door as well, and has been shipped to an unnamed customer. "Our High-NA EUV system in Veldhoven printed the first-ever 10 nanometer dense lines," a statement by ASML reads. "Imaging was done after optics, sensors and stages completed coarse calibration. Next up: bringing the system to full performance. And achieving the same results in the...

EUV Demand is Up: EUV Device Manufacturer ASML Beats Sales Estimates

Between the smartphone revolution, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things, the demand for cutting-edge chips has never been higher. And if you have any doubts about that, then...

46 by Anton Shilov on 10/16/2019

Samsung & TSMC Develop 8nm & 7nm Automotive-Grade Nodes

As vehicles are getting ‘smarter’ and gaining autopilot capabilities, it is easy to predict that the demand for higher-performing and more complex automotive SoCs will be growing rapidly in...

29 by Anton Shilov on 10/14/2019

New Tools & IP Accelerate Development of 5nm Arm ‘Hercules’ SoCs

Arm, Synopsys, and Samsung Foundry have developed a set of optimized tools and IP that will enable chip designers to build next-generation SoCs based on Arm’s Hercules processor cores...

9 by Anton Shilov on 10/10/2019

TSMC: N7+ EUV Process Technology in High Volume, 6nm (N6) Coming Soon

TSMC announced on Monday that its customers have started shipping products based on chips made by TSMC using its N7+ (2nd Generation 7 nm with EUV) process technology that...

27 by Anton Shilov on 10/8/2019

GlobalFoundries Mulls IPO Plans for 2022

After a decade of being a privately-held contract maker of semiconductors, GlobalFoundries has revealed that it's mulling going public in 2022. The move will help GF’s current owners to...

9 by Anton Shilov on 10/2/2019

TSMC Counter-sues GlobalFoundries: Accuses US Fab of Infringing Patents Across Numerous Process Nodes

In a not-unexpected move, TSMC late on Monday filed a lawsuit against GlobalFoundries, its pure-play foundry rival, accusing the manufacturer of patent infringment. In the suit, a response to...

24 by Anton Shilov on 10/1/2019

Arm & TSMC Showcase 7nm Chiplet, Eight A72 at 4GHz on CoWoS Interposer

Arm and TSMC this week unveiled their jointly developed proof-of-concept chip that combines two quad-core Cortex-72-based 7 nm chiplets on TSMC’s Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) interposer. The two chips are connected...

26 by Anton Shilov on 9/27/2019

GlobalFoundries Unveils 12LP+ Technology: Massive Performance & Power Improvements

GlobalFoundries has introduced its 12LP+ fabrication process that relies on the groundwork set by its 14LPP and 12LP technologies and provides significant improvements when it comes to performance, power...

41 by Anton Shilov on 9/25/2019

TSMC Responds to Lawsuit by GlobalFoundries: Allegations Are Baseless

TSMC has responded to GlobalFoundries accusations of patents infringements. The world’s largest foundry said that it would defend itself in courts and that it considered allegations as baseless. The...

62 by Anton Shilov on 8/27/2019

GlobalFoundries Sues TSMC Over Patent Infringement; Apple, Qualcomm, Others Named Defendants

GlobalFoundries has filed a lawsuit against TSMC and its clients in the USA and Germany alleging the world’s largest contract maker of semiconductors of infringing 16 of its patents...

97 by Anton Shilov on 8/26/2019

SMIC: 14nm FinFET in Risk Production; China's First FinFET Line To Contribute Revenue by Late 2019

SMIC, the largest contract maker of semiconductors in China, announced this month that it would start commercial production of chips using its 14 nm FinFET manufacturing technology by the...

53 by Anton Shilov on 8/16/2019

GlobalFoundries Sells Off Photomask Assets to Toppan

Following its decision to focus on specialized process technologies last August, GlobalFoundries has been consolidating its assets as well as selling off businesses and facilities that are not essential...

20 by Anton Shilov on 8/15/2019

Samsung’s Aggressive EUV Plans: 6nm Production in H2, 5nm & 4nm On Track

Samsung Foundry formally started to produce chips using its 7LPP (7 nm low power plus) fabrication process last October and has not slowdown development of its manufacturing technologies since...

42 by Anton Shilov on 7/31/2019

TSMC Announces Performance-Enhanced 7nm & 5nm Process Technologies

TSMC has quietly introduced a performance-enhanced version of its 7 nm DUV (N7) and 5 nm EUV (N5) manufacturing process. The company’s N7P and N5P technologies are designed for...

36 by Anton Shilov on 7/30/2019

LG Display & SK Hynix Looking to Diversify Industrial Suppliers as Row with Japan Intensifies

South Korean electronics companies reaffirmed this week that production of computer memory and displays could be disrupted because of ongoing trade dispute between the country and Japan. Both SK...

8 by Anton Shilov on 7/26/2019

TSMC: 3nm EUV Development Progress Going Well, Early Customers Engaged

Development of new fabrication technologies never stops at leading-edge companies such as TSMC. Therefore, it is not surprising to hear the annoucement that development of TSMC’s 3nm node is...

76 by Anton Shilov on 7/23/2019

Samsung’s 5nm EUV Technology Gets Closer: Tools by Cadence & Synopsys Certified

Samsung Foundry has certified full flow tools from Cadence and Synopsys for its 5LPE (5 nm low-power early) process technology that uses extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV). Full flow design...

13 by Anton Shilov on 7/8/2019

Synopsys to Accelerate Samsung’s 7nm Ramp with Yield Explorer Platform

Synopsys has announced an acceleration of development on its yield learning platform designed to speed up ramp up of chips made using Samsung Foundry’s 7LPP (7 nm low power...

16 by Anton Shilov on 7/4/2019

Marvell to Acquire Avera Semiconductor from GlobalFoundries

Marvell on Monday announced that it had entered into agreement to buy Avera Semiconductor from GlobalFoundries. The acquisition will bring additional chip design capabilities to Marvell and will enable...

8 by Anton Shilov on 5/20/2019

Samsung Announces 3nm GAA MBCFET PDK, Version 0.1

So what comes after 7nm, after 6nm, after 5nm, and after 4nm? That's right: 3nm! At Samsung's Foundry Forum event today, Samsung has announced that the first alpha version...

32 by Dr. Ian Cutress on 5/14/2019

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