ASML refuted rumors that 28nm Chinese chips are difficult to keep, and foreign media questioned its strength.
Some time ago, the former United States and Japan banned export controls on semiconductors. Soon after, the Netherlands also officially banned export controls on semiconductor equipment. According to the requirements of the ban, export controls will be imposed on high-quality DUV lithography machines, including ASML, including lithography machine manufacturers, starting on September 1 this year. Without authorization from the competent authorities, ASML and other manufacturers will not be able to export mid- to high-end lithography machines.
As the world's largest and most advanced lithography machine manufacturer, ASML exports the world's only EUV lithography machine, and occupies an absolute leading position in the field of 14nm to 45nm lithography machines. Under the restrictions of the ban, ASML will restrict the sales of lithography machines below 28nm, and the difficulty for Chinese companies to obtain 28nm lithography machines will be greatly increased.
Due to the wafer ban, Nvidia was unable to sell wafers to Chinese companies, so Nvidia launched A800 wafers and other specialty wafers in the Chinese market to fill the market gap. AMD has also launched special wafers to compete with NVIDIA due to the ban on wafers in the Chinese market.
It can be seen that even if wafers are banned, major manufacturers will continue to launch special wafers for the Chinese market to seize market share. In this context, there is news: ASML will launch a special version of the DUV lithography machine for the Chinese market.
For a time, many people who cared about the development of China's chip internal components rejoiced and welcomed ASML's initiative. And on July 6, ASML officially clarified this rumor: ASML complied with relevant laws and regulations, and did not release a special edition lithography machine for China. In the face of ASML's statement, some foreign media said: China's 28-nanometer core cannot be guaranteed.
It is reported that 28-nanometer chips can meet more than 75% of China's industrial needs, such as home appliance industry, aerospace industry, automotive industry and low-end smartphones can operate normally with the support of 28-nanometer chips. Only a small number of high-end smartphones and precision equipment will use chips below the 28nm process.
28nm chips are so important, if it is really as foreign media say, then there are no 28nm chips available?
So is this really the case?The answer is no. Why?I think there are three points that need to be made.
First of all, SMIC has mastered the production process of 28nm chips, and has previously purchased a batch of 28nm lithography machines from ASML, so it has the ability to produce 28nm chips. In addition, SMIC is building four fabs, two of which have already been completed. At that time, the number of SMIC's 28nm wafer production lines will be significantly increased, thereby driving the production of 28nm wafers.
Secondly, Chinese semiconductor companies have overcome a number of 28-nanometer lithography technologies, and it is possible to independently develop 28-nanometer lithography technology. It is reported that the team of Harbin Institute of Technology has developed an ultra-high-speed precision laser interferometer for 28nm lithography and provided technical support for 28nm lithographyChangchun Institute of Optics and Mechanics provided optical lenses for 28nm lithographyZhejiang Qier Electromechanical provided an infiltration system for 28nm lithographyHuazhuo Precision Technology provides dual tables for 28nm lithographyThe most critical light source system, the Beijing light coefficient, can also be used for 28nm lithographyThe most critical light source system, Beijing Keyi Hongyuan, can also be supplied for 28nm lithography.
With the help of these semiconductor companies, Shanghai Microelectronics was able to develop 28-nanometer lithography technology. The same is true of the current situation, it is said that Shanghai Microelectronics is developing a 28nm lithography machine, and I believe that in the near future, we may see a domestic 28nm lithography machine.
To solve the bottleneck of 28nm lithography machine, China's 28nm wafer production is the biggest problem.
Finally, China has achieved technological breakthroughs in wafer packaging, EDA tools, photoresists, etching machines, ion implanters, etching, etching machines, etc., making it possible to independently produce 28-nanometer wafers. The production of 28nm chips requires not only a production process, but also corresponding equipment and materials. SMIC has mastered the 28nm production process, and Shanghai Microelectronics is expected to develop a 28nm lithography machine, but there is still a long way to go to produce 28nm chips. Fortunately, national semiconductor companies are closing this gap.
It is reported that in the field of wafer packaging, JCET has made a breakthrough in 4nm wafer packaging technologyHuawei and its partners have also achieved EDA tool autonomy for 14nm wafer designCETC's subsidiaries have also made breakthroughs in 28nm ion implantersThe 5nm etching machine of Micro Enterprise has also been successfully developed, and mass production and shipment have been realizedNanda Optoelectronics has also made a breakthrough in 28nm-90nm photoresist, which has been accepted by downstream partners...
SMIC has mastered the 28nm wafer manufacturing process, and Shanghai Microelectronics has developed 28nm lithography and then 4nm wafer packaging, 14nm EDA tools, 28nm ion implanters, 28nm photoresists, and 5nm etching machines, and China's semiconductor companies have achieved a series of technological breakthroughs in the design, production, and packaging of 28nm wafers.
Based on these technological breakthroughs, we should not be overly discouraged even if ASML's 28nm lithography technology cannot be realized for the time being.
I believe that under the leadership of semiconductor manufacturers such as SMIC and Huawei, domestic semiconductor companies will be able to realize the autonomy of 28nm chips and will no longer be hindered.