Intel Reaffirms Intention to Make Chips Using 32nm Process
Intel Corp. indicated at A.G. Edwards computer/microprocessor technology conference that transistor miniaturization is expected to proceed further and currently the company is on track to start making central processing units (CPUs) using 32nm process technology starting from 2009. It is not the first time when Intel reaffirms its clients and investors that it is able to start 32nm production in 2009. Due to very thin structures of transistors in case of 32nm process technology, special ? extreme ultraviolet lithography ? tools are needed for appropriate production. The main idea of extreme ultraviolet lithography is ability to ?draw? substantially finer circuits on wafers when making chips than it is possible today.
Development of such manufacturing tools is a very complex process that may slowdown deployment adoption of the new fabrication process. In early 2004 Intel provided Cymer, a leading supplier of deep ultraviolet light sources used in semiconductor manufacturing, $20 million in funding over the following three years to accelerate development of production-worthy extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography light sources.
Posted by - Gumbo
December 5, 2005, 2:36 pm
News Source - Xbit Labs
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