Reborn since 1993

Chapter 517: As long as the hoe is used well, there is no corner that cannot be dug down

Kodak is still the invincible yellow giant today. It has hundreds of thousands of Kodak film processing shops around the world, employs more than 280 people, and has a market value of more than billion US dollars. Kodak can be found wherever film is needed in the world.

In recent years, although digital cameras, which Kodak hates, have been on the rise, Kodak is still a giant.

In fact, Kodak developed digital cameras as early as the 1970s and 1980s, but they were shelved because digital cameras could not sell film.

As for now, it is estimated that no one would have thought that a generation of yellow giant would fall, and would fall under the knife of digital cameras that were once shelved by Kodak itself, and no one would have thought that it would be completely lifted up by cross-border smartphones!
Although film photography is no longer popular, people like Lin Qijian, who first came into contact with photography and dealt with Kodak, still have feelings for Kodak. There are also many people who still love film photography.

Just like the vinyl records that should have been swept into the history pile long ago, they have experienced a revival in the digital music era, and their sales have once exceeded those of CDs and other discs. This shows how big the market for sentiment and reminiscence is. I first heard it when I was in my third year of high school, and I heard it again when I was in my third year of high school. Things that I couldn’t afford in my third year of high school, I could afford when I was in my third year of high school.

It is definitely unrealistic to buy Kodak now as it costs too much. But it would be no problem to wait until it goes bankrupt, take off its brand and give it to Lin Qijian to play with.

If Lin Qijian could join Doxin Semiconductor, help build a chip production base, and develop the latest model of lithography machine, then let alone the severely disabled Kodak, even if it was a fully-fledged Kodak, Doxin Semiconductor might let Lin Qijian fulfill his wish once.

"I also hope that one day I can ask Kodak's management why they didn't read my resume back then!" Lin Qijian said with a smile.

Looking at the antique camera and listening to Li Dongling's words just now, even shouting out that he would give him the Kodak, the smell of spending a huge amount of money on a horse's bones was so strong that Lin Qijian could no longer help but hear it.

"No merit, no reward. What is the reason that Mr. Li asked me to come here this time?"

Lin Cijian has a gentle personality and seems never to get angry, but this time when he asked Li Dongling, his eyes were somewhat solemn.

Li Dongling looked at Lin Qijian and said straight to the point, "To be honest, Hanxi Dongxin Semiconductor Company is preparing to build a chip production base and hopes to invite Dr. Lin to serve as the chief engineer!"

"Go to Hanxi and serve as the chief engineer of the chip factory?"

Lin Cijian looked obviously surprised. He had thought of various possibilities, but he never expected that Li Dongling actually wanted to dig him back to the inland.

"Not only is it a chip production base, but Dongxin Semiconductor also has a research and development team for lithography machines. If Dr. Lin is willing, this lithography machine research and development team can also be managed by Dr. Lin!"

Li Dongling made a statement that the entire Dongxin Semiconductor lithography equipment and chip production base would be handed over to Lin Qijian for management, which actually meant giving him the power.

The current lithography machine team of Dongxin Semiconductor is a research and development team mainly composed of Zhou Shi, Zhang Shiying, Wang Xia and others from the former 45th Institute of the Ministry of Machinery and Electronics.

It cannot be said that this lithography machine R&D team is bad. It is the best lithography machine R&D team that Doxin Semiconductor can find in China. Now it is developing a 450-nanometer lithography machine for Doxin Semiconductor.

Now, Doxin Semiconductor's 450-nanometer lithography machine has already taken shape. If it continues to invest more funds, it is estimated that it can be developed.

However, if Zhou Shi's lithography machine research and development team wants to go further and catch up with the latest models of lithography machines from Nikon and Canon, and then develop lithography machines below 450 nanometers, it would be a bit beyond their capabilities, not to mention conquering the 193-nanometer lithography machine that has blocked chip manufacturers around the world.

"I have retired from IBM for several years and have not returned to frontline R&D positions. I am afraid that I am somewhat out of touch with the current mainstream technology!"

After hearing what Li Dongling said, Lin Xijian said with a little hesitation that technology was one aspect, and on the other hand, Lin Xijian had been in America for nearly 30 years, and it was inevitable that he would feel conflicted when he suddenly went to an unfamiliar environment.

Hearing Lin Qijian's words, Li Dongling was not disappointed. "Dr. Lin, you have worked at IBM for 22 years, responsible for the lithography project. Don't you regret that the deep ultraviolet DUV technology failed to break through 193 nanometers?"

Lin Cijian's expression suddenly changed. For a technician, failing to solve a problem that has troubled his entire career would probably be a lifelong regret.

While at IBM, although Lin Qijian insisted on DUV technology, IBM executives preferred the X-ray lithography machine project, which prevented Lin Qijian from proving his theory and technology to the world until his retirement.

At this moment, Lin Qijian's eyes were particularly sharp, and he looked straight at Li Dongling. After a moment, he let out a sigh.

"Whether it is DUV, X-ray, ArF or excimer laser, whichever path can break through the shackles of 193-nanometer light source, no one knows who the winner will be until the end!" Lin Qijian's tone was somewhat unwilling and helpless. The most helpless thing for R&D practitioners is that the road ahead is endless and no one knows which path is right.

History will only remember the winners. As for those who fail in research and development, even those who spend their entire lives researching a project, if they fail, their entire career will be basically negated.

Now all kinds of lithography machine companies and research and development teams are trying desperately to conquer the 193-nanometer light source. There are countless ways, but it is destined that there will be only one winner, and the rest will all be cannon fodder to set off the winner.

Frankly speaking, Lin Qijian has no idea whether deep ultraviolet (DUV) technology can succeed or not, as the current lithography machine giants Nikon and Canon have both broken through the 193-nanometer process. If this road was easy, IBM would not have given up on it and developed X-ray lithography technology.

"But until the end, who dares to say that deep ultraviolet light DUV will not be the final winner?" Li Dongling said to Lin Qijian.

Hearing this, Lin Qijian gave a helpless smile and said, "But the cost is too high. To prove whether this path is correct, we may have to invest hundreds of millions of dollars. If we fail, it may all be wasted!"

"But if you don't try, who knows if it will work?"

At this time, Lin Qijian's expression was already somewhat moved. If Li Dongling was willing to support his DUV project, it might really make up for the regrets in his career.

But the fact that Doxin Semiconductor is willing to pay does not mean that everything can be done without worries. If the R&D fails and the huge R&D expenses are wasted, it can be said that Lin Qijian will lose his reputation in his later years.

When Li Dongling saw Lin Chijian, he still had a hesitant look on his face and released another big move.

"Dr. Lin, I am not a professional in the lithography machine and chip industry. What I said is just a fantasy. Dr. Lin, just treat it as a joke.

At present, no matter what kind of light source lithography technology is used, ion projection, ArF, X-ray, DUV, etc., they are all dry lithography machines using air as the medium, but what if the air is replaced with water or other media..."

Li Dongling is indeed not an expert on photolithography machines, but he has heard some rumors about photolithography machines in previous lives. The most famous of them is the use of water as the medium of the photolithography machine. Through the refraction of water, the light source is shortened and projected onto the circuit.

After hearing Li Dongling's words, Lin Qijian just laughed it off at first, and then his expression became more and more serious.

Lin Qijian certainly understood what Li Dongling meant. At first glance, it seemed a little unreliable. As a veteran who had been in the industry for a lifetime, he could find various loopholes in Li Dongling's method. For example, if water was used as a medium, would bubbles be generated, would the equipment be contaminated, and there were also various problems with waterproofing, water would generate heat and expand, evaporate, and affect accuracy.

But apart from these problems, Lin Qijian suddenly thought that according to this method, there is real hope to convert the 193-nanometer light source directly into a 134-nanometer light source through the refraction of water, thus bypassing the 193-nanometer barrier in one fell swoop!
Lin Qijian's heart beat faster. This method was theoretically feasible. Even if it was only theoretical, there was hope that those problems could be solved!
"Perhaps this is the case that those in charge are confused, while those who are not are more clear-headed. The entire semiconductor industry has been imprisoned by traditional thinking over the years!

Mr. Li, you are a genius. If you had chosen the semiconductor industry, you would have achieved astonishing results!" When Lin Qijian looked at Li Dongling, his eyes changed a little.

Li Dongling shook his head. "I'm just talking nonsense. Dr. Lin, don't take it seriously!"

"This approach is indeed worth a try. Theoretically, changing the air medium can indeed reduce the size of the light source!" Lin Qijian said seriously. At least this theory made him excited.

"If Dr. Lin is willing to join Dosin Semiconductor, Dosin Semiconductor is willing to fully support and use DUV technology to develop this theory!"

At this point, Li Dongling also began to show his cards, "Dongxin Semiconductor is willing to provide Dr. Lin with an annual salary of $2 and transfer % of the equity to Dr. Lin!
Dr. Lin came to Doxin Semiconductor and served as the chief engineer of the chip production plant and lithography machine project. All personnel and R&D projects were decided by Dr. Lin! "

Li Dongling was handing over the chip production base and lithography machine project of Doxin Semiconductor to Lin Qijian. Compared with IBM, which was always trying to get Lin Qijian to pay, this showed enough sincerity to Lin Qijian.

"I……"

At this time, Lin Qijian was already tempted, but when the words came to his lips, he still said to Li Dongling with a bit of apology, "I need to discuss this with my wife at home!"

Li Dongling had long heard rumors about the deep love between Lin Qijian and his wife. "Of course, if Mrs. Lin and Dr. Lin's family are willing to go inland together, Dongxin Semiconductor and Dongling Hi-Tech can make arrangements for their work and life!"

(End of this chapter)