Reborn since 1993

Chapter 399 Blindfolded Running
Listening to what Wu Xinyi said about the lithography machine components, Li Dongling could also imagine how difficult it was for the lithography machine team led by Zhou Shi.

Not only are all the domestic lithography machine manufacturers wiped out, but the entire component industry chain is now almost dispensable.

"Currently, Chief Engineer Zhou's team is not only developing lithography machine technology, but also developing corresponding supporting software and parts. For this purpose, they have even invested in more than a few parts companies as parts suppliers for Dongxin Semiconductor's lithography machines!"

Where did all that money of Dongxin Semiconductor go? In addition to the research and development of lithography machines, the most important thing is to invest in some companies to produce parts for Dongxin Semiconductor's lithography machines. Without investment, these companies would not go to the trouble of designing, developing and producing parts for Dongxin Semiconductor.

Li Dongling was also scratching his head and asked Wu Xinyi, "If Dongxin Semiconductor can launch a 450-nanometer lithography machine next year, how big will the gap be with the lithography machines of Nikon, Canon, ASML, GCA and other manufacturers?"

Wu Xinyi was a little silent. He was a veteran in the lithography machine industry. In addition, Li Dongling attached great importance to information. Whether it was technology or academic weekly from America, old Europe, Japan and other places, including industry reports from some paid consulting companies, they were all subscribed to for a long time and then sent to China for review by senior executives and technical personnel of Dongling Hi-Tech.

Therefore, Wu Xinyi and everyone in Doxin Semiconductor are quite familiar with the current landscape of the global lithography machine industry.

Sighing, Wu Xinyi said, "According to the industry standards previously set by the semiconductor industry and the development of Moore's Law, the lithography machine currently developed by Dongxin Semiconductor is the first generation of 450-nanometer lithography machine!
This year, Nikon has trial-produced the world's most advanced third-generation 248-nanometer scanning projection lithography machine, which is theoretically the smallest process and can produce chips with a process size of 180 nanometers to 130 nanometers! "

Wu Xinyi thought that Li Dongling would be furious after hearing the result. After all, Doxin Semiconductor invested so much money, but the lithography machine it developed was still a generation behind Nikon and Canon's lithography machines. What's the difference between this and throwing money away?
But after hearing Wu Xinyi's words, Li Dongling did not look angry at all. Instead, he felt relieved, which made Wu Xinyi a little surprised.

“That is, companies with lithography machine businesses such as Nikon, Canon, IBM, Siemens, GCA, and ASML now have the most advanced technology, which is the third-generation lithography machine.

The fourth-generation lithography machine with a wavelength of 193 nanometers, no company has yet been able to master it, right?" Li Dongling looked at Wu Xinyi and said.

"Yes!"

Wu Xinyi looked at Li Dongming strangely and gave a definite answer.

"The route for the third-generation lithography machine was proposed in the 1980s and officially broke through this year, but the fourth-generation lithography machine has been debated for many years in the semiconductor industry, but there is still no clue.

In order to break through from 193 nanometers to 157 nanometers, the current top semiconductor academic industry has proposed several solutions including excimer laser, electron beam projection, ion projection, and X-ray.

Among these solutions, Nippon Benzene Semiconductor currently prefers the excimer laser solution, but no matter which solution is used, it faces problems such as lenses and photoresists, and it is very difficult. If these solutions do not work, it means that Moore's Law, which has guided the semiconductor industry for decades... has officially failed!"

Speaking of this, Wu Xinyi shook his head. Every family has its own problems. For Dongxin Semiconductor, the problem is how to catch up with the most advanced lithography machines. For the lithography machine departments of Nikon, Canon, GCA, IBM and other companies, the worry is where the fourth-generation lithography machines will go.

Li Dongling thought for a moment and asked Wu Xinyi, "How long do you think the fourth-generation lithography machines can trouble companies like Nikon, Canon, and ASML?"

"Three or five years?"

"Maybe we can achieve a breakthrough in a few years, but maybe it will take longer, even ten years!"

Wu Xinyi shook his head and said that things like research and development do sometimes require a bit of luck, just like in later generations, before the start of a major project, even construction giants such as China Railway Construction, China Construction, and China Energy Construction would need to worship the land god, burn three incense sticks, burn a piece of paper, and worship the five gods of wealth.

Even many universities in America have opened courses on Feng Shui. Graduates will have no trouble finding a job and are asked by real estate tycoons, wealthy people, and powerful figures to give advice on Feng Shui. Sometimes, many things about Feng Shui are really a bit weird.

"As long as the fourth-generation lithography machine can hold back Nikon, Canon, and ASML for five years, that will be enough!"

"Old Wu, you should have heard the story of the tortoise and the hare. For Dongxin Semiconductor, what we need to do is to catch up with the first-tier manufacturers of lithography machines within five years, and then... fight for the fourth-generation lithography machine!"

Li Dongling looked at Wu Xinyi and said that for Doxin Semiconductor, there is still a full generation of technology gap between its lithography machines and those of Nikon and ASML.

If we continue at the normal speed, it will be difficult to catch up with the gap of one generation of technology, and we may even be left further behind.

However, the fourth-generation 193-nanometer lithography machine is like an insurmountable barrier that stands in the way of the entire lithography machine and semiconductor industry, making the entire industry face the difficulty of making any progress.

Even a few years later, facing the iron wall of the fourth-generation lithography machine, Intel, the current semiconductor leader, was so anxious to overcome the fourth-generation lithography machine. In 1997, Intel came forward to lobby the US Capitol Hill, and then asked the US Department of Energy to come forward and gather a group of thugs, pull in AMD and Motorola, and invite the three major US laboratories of Lawrence Livermore, Berkeley, and Sandia to form the EUVLLC alliance, which is specifically designed to overcome the difficulties of the fourth-generation lithography machine.

The longer the fourth-generation lithography machine is delayed for companies like Nikon and ASML, the more advantageous it will be for Doxin Semiconductor. It can take advantage of these few years to narrow the gap with Nikon and ASML, and then fight a decisive battle for the fourth-generation lithography machine.

This is one of the few opportunities for Dongxin Semiconductor to overtake others. In addition to the time limit, there is another reason. Japanese semiconductor companies represented by Nikon and Canon are now the biggest threat to America.

America is now keeping a close eye on Nikon and Canon and trying its best to suppress these two companies. It is even supporting ASML to do this, all in order to clean up Japan's semiconductor industry.

When Nikon is stagnant and America can't take care of Dongxin Semiconductor, if we don't work hard to develop now, do we have to wait until America has dealt with Nikon before turning around and slapping Dongxin Semiconductor to death?
As long as Nikon and Canon are still alive, Doxin Semiconductor should be able to survive for a few years, or even ten years.

Of course, Dongxin Semiconductor also needs to find a few allies in America to let America "see" that Dongxin Semiconductor is Nikon's rival and they are in the same camp. Dongxin Semiconductor is helping the American semiconductor industry...

"A decisive battle for the fourth-generation lithography machine?!"

Wu Xinyi was shocked by Li Dongling's words. Even if Li Dongling dared to say this, he didn't dare to listen.

As for Dongxin Semiconductor, it has been struggling to develop the first generation of lithography machines, and it has no idea about the second and third generation lithography machines. Now it dares to talk about a decisive battle for the fourth generation of lithography machines. For people in the industry, this sounds a bit scary.

Compared with Wu Xinyi, Li Dongling is more confident. Li Dongling is not good at lithography technology, but he knows the development direction of the fourth and fifth generation lithography machines in the future!
What is the most difficult thing in any industry? Technology is one aspect, but what makes the entire industry practitioners more afraid is the uncertain road ahead. No one dares to jump to conclusions. Billions of dollars of industry funds may be invested, but in the end it will be all for nothing, and then a large number of companies will collapse.

Why are geniuses so sought after in the industry? Because they are like a lamp in the darkness, leading the industry forward and gaining the greatest benefits at the lowest cost!

As long as we can determine the future direction of the development of lithography machines and the route of the fourth-generation immersion lithography machines and the fifth-generation EUV lithography machines, as long as we are willing to invest money, we will eventually get profits!

"The goal of Dongxin Semiconductor in recent years is to develop the fourth-generation lithography machine. We will first launch a 450-nanometer lithography machine to enter the low- and mid-end lithography machine market, and then gradually move on to high-end lithography machines. In the short term, as long as we can occupy the domestic lithography machine market, it will be enough for Dongxin Semiconductor!"

Looking at Li Dongling, who seemed to believe that Doxin Semiconductor could break through the fourth-generation lithography machine that is now plaguing the entire semiconductor industry, Wu Xinyi was full of suspicion. He didn't know where Li Dongling got the confidence from. Anyway, he was really unsure.

But Li Dongling, as a major financial sponsor, made a plan for Dongxin Semiconductor's lithography machine project. Wu Xinyi had no choice but to rush forward blindly according to this rather unrestrained plan.

"What is the current development stage of the computer chip that Academician Ni and Professor Huang are working on?" Li Dongling finally asked about the progress of the computer chip project.

"It went well!"

"The chip department is currently developing a chip that is equivalent to Intel's first-generation Pentium processor technology. It is difficult, but not insurmountable. It is expected that the first tape-out will be possible by the end of next year!"

Wu Xinyi said with a smile that compared with the photolithography machine, the computer chip research and development team led by Ni Guangnan and Huang Lingyi has made much faster progress.

"Dongxin Semiconductor will set up a dedicated mobile phone chip design team starting next year to cooperate with the communication technology research and development department of Dongling Hi-Tech headquarters to develop baseband chips together!"

Li Dongling hesitated for a moment, but still explained to Wu Xinyi, "From now on, until the first half of next year, if Dongxin Semiconductor needs to purchase equipment and parts from overseas, they must be purchased in advance, and at least five years of preparations must be made.

You must also be prepared for the possibility that you will no longer be able to buy from overseas in the future. You can apply for the funds you need from the Tanglin Hi-Tech headquarters!"

"what?"

When Wu Xinyi heard this, his face suddenly changed.

(End of this chapter)