Rebirth 08: Rise from copycat phones

Chapter 222 Even if it's tattered, it's still the second best in the world
Shenzhen, Southern Optics, an enterprise invested and founded by Fairy Mountain Holdings, has been actively recruiting talents in the field of optics after acquiring a long-established optical enterprise.

Relying on some existing domestic supply chains, Southern Optics first completed the light source system of the commercially available I-LINE lithography machine last year, and then completed the KRF light source system last year, assisting Gulf Technology in developing the KRF lithography machine and commercializing it.

We are currently developing the ARF light source system required for DUV dry lithography machines.

Today, Southern Optics has rapidly grown into a leading company in the domestic optical field, and its strength has surpassed some other domestic optical companies.

But even so, the technical accumulation is seriously insufficient. We encountered countless troubles when developing the ARF light source, and the light source test failed not long ago.

This made a group of core researchers at the Southern Light Source frown!
"We can't go on like this. Our research and development progress has been delayed a lot. Gulf Technology has already developed the machine and is just waiting for our light source."

"The key reason for the failure of the last test was the material problem. The performance parameters of several materials were too low, so we had to use a variety of compromise methods to achieve the design effect. However, we took too many detours, which made the entire system too complicated and the failure rate also increased!"

“Such a light source system seems to have been developed, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes at all!”

At this time, the research boss of Southern Optics came to the headquarters of Fairy Mountain Holdings and saw a small flash memory chip.

After opening it and entering the complex password to decrypt the files stored inside, the person in charge was stunned.

“Where did this information come from?”

"This is the overall design of the EUV light source system. It is so detailed that it involves the detailed parameters of every component!"

"And this ARF light source system, isn't it the light source system used in ASML's current DUV lithography machine? How did you get this information?"

The person from Fairy Mountain Holdings who came to deliver the information said, "Don't ask me, I don't know either. I advise you not to ask. Knowing too much about many things will not do you any good!"

"I asked you to come here to act as a consultant and guide us in deleting and modifying the file. We just need to delete the names of these peer companies. Otherwise, if we show it directly to the technical staff, it will not have a good impact!"

"No problem. I promise to delete and modify the file so that no one can see obvious traces. However, the technical features are too obvious. If it is made as it is, anyone who knows the industry can tell that we copied it!"

"That's a copy. There are so many DUV lithography machines in China. Let's take apart a few and see. It's normal to copy!"

It didn't take long before the preliminary sorted information was sent to Southern Optics, and some of the ARF light source system's research and development information was released in batches under various names.

Just ask about company secrets, don’t ask too many questions.

Then Southern Optics' research and development in the field of ARF light sources accelerated instantly... Of course, even if it was accelerated, it would be impossible to produce a mature and usable ARF light source system all at once. Many of them involve difficulties with raw materials. The information provided only tells you what materials to use and what performance the materials should achieve.

But where do the materials come from... This requires Southern Optics to either develop them on its own or look for suppliers all over the world.

"At present, the research and development of DUV lithography machines is going smoothly. Maybe we will be able to make the first prototype this summer. If there are no major problems, we will try to make a few in the fall and deliver them to Zhiyun Microelectronics for testing. We will be able to start mass production next year!"

Wang Daolin, the general manager of Gulf Technology, appeared in the chairman's office of Liuhe Investment in a very good mood. While making tea, he said, "Don't worry, President Xu. I was a little bit lacking in confidence in this DUV dry lithography project, but the progress of various subsystems has been very smooth in the past year. Southern Optics, the light source system, has guaranteed me that they will deliver the first ARF light source system in June at the latest. This light source system has a wavelength of 193 nanometers, and it is not the previous test light source, but a light source that can be used directly!"

“Although the double workbench made by Beilin Precision is more difficult to make, and its performance parameters are not as good as similar foreign products, it can still be used!”

"Most of the other subsystems are now almost done. We are just waiting for the light source to be completed, and then we will try to make a prototype!"

Xu Shenxue listened with a smile, taking a sip of tea from time to time: "This is great news. With this DUV dry lithography machine, Zhiyun Semiconductor will have its own lithography machine available for the 65-nanometer process node!"

"Work hard. The lithography machine is the core equipment in the semiconductor industry chain. Get it done as soon as possible. In addition, other key equipment cannot be left behind. Remember, our goal is not just the lithography machine, but the key equipment in the entire production line."

"We need to make everything we can, and we need to force the things we can't make. We don't want a single lithography machine, but a complete set of advanced chip production lines, so we need to speed up the development of other key equipment as well."

Wang Daolin said, "Yes, we have a lot of projects in Haiwan Technology. The front-end lithography machine is just one of the important projects in our company. We have also made rapid progress in the field of back-end lithography machines. We have already supplied a large number of them to Zhiyun Microelectronics and other chip manufacturers. Moreover, our back-end lithography machine technology is advancing very rapidly. We have already iterated to the third generation. Our third-generation back-end lithography machine can even meet the production of 32 nanometers and potentially even lower 28 nanometer process technology, and its production efficiency is not worse than similar foreign products."

"At the same time, our costs are lower, the selling price is lower, and the maintenance and consumables costs are also lower, which makes us very competitive in the market."

"Even some foreign chip factories have begun to consult us and try to purchase our second-generation or third-generation back-end lithography machines!"

"Then there are two key equipment, the etching machine project and the ion implanter, which are also key projects of our company. We have developed the first generation of products and supplied them to Zhiyun Microelectronics for low-process production!"

"At present, Zhiyun Microelectronics has switched to purchasing our equipment from Gulf Technology for many key equipment with backward processes above 130 nanometer nodes. Generally speaking, our two types of equipment are still in the first generation, with lower efficiency and more minor faults, but our shipping price is cheaper, only a fraction of the price of imported products. The price of subsequent maintenance and spare parts is also cheaper. Therefore, the final chip production cost can probably be on par with the production line of imported equipment!"

"Now our company is organizing capable personnel and working with suppliers to tackle the second-generation etching machine and ion implantation machine projects. We will try to see if we can also produce the second generation by the end of the year to meet the production line requirements of the 65-nanometer node process!"

"In addition, Zhiyun Microelectronics also has its own equipment department, which has developed some key equipment and conventional equipment. Their cleaning equipment and degumming equipment are very good." "The various semiconductor production line equipment developed by our Haiwan Technology and Zhiyun Microelectronics' equipment self-development department basically covers almost all the core key equipment of the production line. Some equipment that we haven't developed can also be found in China. Suppliers."

"We should have the hope of completing the full set of 130-nanometer process stages and becoming fully independent before the year after next. We won't need to import even a single screw, and we will be able to produce chips at the 130-nanometer process node!"

"Subsequent equipment with higher process technology will be more complicated. It will be difficult for us two companies to do it alone. It is too difficult to achieve full localization."

Xu Shenxue said: "Don't worry about that. Some time ago, I went to Beijing to attend a symposium and gave a special report on the issue of the autonomy of the 65-nanometer process node. They have promised me that they will mobilize relevant research institutes and enterprises to participate. Later, they will gradually take over the research and development of some subsystems and some basic materials!"

"They will probably contact you this month. You will then do a good job of docking and subcontract out some inefficient and meaningless repetitive R&D work, especially R&D projects that require a lot of manpower. Our company has a limited number of R&D personnel, so we need to use them where they are needed. Just let them help with some low-level R&D work!"

Wang Daolin asked: "They?"

Wang Daolin didn't look happy when he heard this, but frowned slightly: "Them?"

"The annual funding they use to develop lithography machines is less than the monthly funding of our lithography project. Isn't it a bit unreliable to rely on them?"

Xu Shenxue took a sip of tea and said, "It's okay even if the efficiency is lower and there is less innovation. There is no problem with outsourcing some work. Besides, we are not not paying them. If they don't get paid, they will naturally not be very motivated. But we pay them!"

Wang Daolin said, "That's right. I will subcontract out some of the repetitive and inefficient R&D work. These jobs can be done even by fresh graduates. They should be able to do it with some effort."

"This can also significantly reduce our workload, allowing us to focus on the most critical and core research and development work!"

"We will pay according to the subcontracted projects, and we will not pay them if they are not completed. We will also come up with some incentives, and who knows, we may be able to get these gentlemen to work a full eight hours and do their research with peace of mind!"

Xu Shenxue waved his hand after hearing this: "What master? Just say these words to me, don't say them outside. It will have a bad influence!"

Wang Daolin said, "I am only nagging you here, Mr. Xu. Once I leave your place, I will deny what I said just now!"

"But, ah... forget it, I won't say it anymore!"

Xu Shenxue knew that he had suffered injustice when he worked in those places before, and he had some aversion to these places, and even often looked at those researchers with contempt.

Because of his previous experiences, Wang Daolin has said many times that the people in those places are a bunch of people who are just waiting to die. If you rely on them, they will not be able to develop a DUV immersion lithography machine even in 15 years.

After hearing this, Xu Shenxue silently calculated the time and found that Wang Daolin, who was considered extremely pessimistic by many people, was still too optimistic!
----

But the semiconductor industry is a very large industry, and it cannot be handled by one person or one company!

Whether it is Gulf Technology or Zhiyun Microelectronics, if they want to maintain rapid development and develop semiconductors, they must have the support of an entire industrial system!
You can't just do everything directly, right?

No matter how powerful Zhiyun Technology is, it is impossible to create a third industrial system on Earth!
It’s not about the money!
Specifically in the lithography machine project, Gulf Technology has already mass-produced the KRF lithography machine for commercial use. This thing may seem very backward, but it was not difficult for Gulf Technology to develop it quickly and put it into commercial use quickly.

This is certainly due to the support of Xu Shenxue, the world's richest man, who is behind Gulf Technology and has no shortage of money. There is also support from the scientific research system, and tens of thousands of R&D personnel have greatly improved the R&D capabilities on the spot.

But even so, it is based on the long-term accumulation of the country's basic industries over the past few decades, as well as some subsystems and material breakthroughs that have been developed successively under the continuous promotion of multiple major projects over the past decade.

For example, in terms of light source, Southern Optics directly acquired an optical manufacturer with the ability to produce KRF light sources. On this basis, it optimized the design and improved the overall performance before finally obtaining a qualified commercial KRF light source system.

It doesn’t mean that Southern Optics started from scratch!

The ARF light source system is similar. In fact, China already has a certain foundation in many areas such as objective lenses and light sources. Southern Optics integrates them on this basis and then optimizes the design.

The situation is similar when it comes to the entire front-end lithography project.
In the research and development of front-end lithography machines by Gulf Technology, the main work is not invention or creation, but optimization and integration.

In their own words: They strive to make these junk with poor performance be turned into advanced process chips through ingenious design, in a stable, long-term and efficient manner!

This is the self-deprecating attitude of some of their internal engineers: We are just a bunch of junkers!
Compared with their counterparts in the Netherlands and Japan who produce lithography machines, the engineers at Gulf Technology are really just playing with junk... The performance of the spare parts they can get is actually quite different.

Therefore, the engineers of Gulf Technology actually face more complex and difficult problems than the engineers of ASML in the Netherlands and Nikon in Japan!

They have to use a lot of spare parts with poor performance, and then assemble a DUV dry lithography machine, or even a subsequent DUV immersion lithography machine, whose performance is not much worse than similar foreign products.

This is a very challenging task.

(End of this chapter)