EUV Annual Perceptions Survey – 2019


8th Annual Perceptions Survey – 2019 (July) of 68 luminaries across 42 different companies about use of EUV. Confidence in EUV remains high • 73% predict HVM by end of 2020 • Outlook is positive for actinic inspection and pellicle Click here to see survey slides. » read more

Fast Local Registration Measurements For Efficient E-beam Writer Qualification And Correction


By Klaus-Dieter Roeth, Hendrik Steigerwald, Runyuan Han, Oliver Ache, Frank Laske (KLA-Tencor MIE GmbH, Germany) Abstract Mask data are presented which demonstrate local registration errors that can be correlated to the writing swathes of state-of-the-art e-beam writers and multi-pass strategies, potentially leading to systematic device registration errors versus design of close to 2nm. Fur... » read more

2018 eBeam Initiative Perceptions Survey Results


EUV confidence and multi-beam remains high in the 7th Annual Perceptions Survey – 2018 (July). EUV perceptions remain positive. 82% of respondents predict EUV in HVM by end of 2021. Only 1% predict EUV will never happen. Confidence is high again for EUV lithography in high-volume manufacturing and expectations continue to grow around actinic mask inspection for EUV. Perceptions on the nee... » read more

The Week In Review: Manufacturing


Mask and fab equipment Seeking to speed up the semiconductor design and manufacturing process, D2S has rolled out its fifth-generation computational design platform (CDP). D2S, a supplier of GPU-accelerated computational systems or platforms, said the latest CDP is designed to enable faster simulations for a range of applications. Using Nvidia’s Pascal-based Tesla P40 GPUs, D2S’ fifth-... » read more

Multi-Patterning Issues At 7nm, 5nm


Continuing to rely on 193nm immersion lithography with multiple patterning is becoming much more difficult at 7nm and 5nm. With the help of various resolution enhancement techniques, optical lithography using a deep ultraviolet excimer laser has been the workhorse patterning technology in the fab since the early 1980s. It is so closely tied with the continuation of [getkc id="74" comment="Mo... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: April 26


Multi-beam inspection For some time, Singaporean startup Maglen has been developing a multi-beam e-beam inspection tool technology. Now, Maglen has reached two milestones. First, it has devised a full column test stand. The test stand includes a mechanical column and software. The second milestone is also significant. “We also dropped our beam and obtained our very first images,” sai... » read more

GPU-Based Computing In Photomask Manufacturing


Graphical-processing unit (GPU)-accelerated computing has reached maturity for professional, scientific computing applications. One example of this is the recent GPU-accelerated thermal application for semiconductor photomask manufacturing, which is used in 24/7 manufacturing environments. GPU-accelerated computing won’t be a universal panacea for the semiconductor industry’s “need for sp... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: March 15


More multi-beam The multi-beam e-beam market is a hot topic. For example, Intel is quietly in the process of acquiring IMS Nanofabrication, a developer of multi-beam e-beam tools for mask writing applications. Meanwhile, at the recent SPIE Advanced Lithography conference, Mapper Lithography disclosed new upgrades for its multi-beam e-beam tool for use in direct-write lithography application... » read more

Challenges Mount For Patterning And Masks


Semiconductor Engineering sat down to discuss [getkc id="80" comment="lithography"] and photomask trends with Uday Mitra, vice president and chief technology officer for the Etch Business Unit at [getentity id="22817" e_name="Applied Materials"]; Pawitter Mangat, senior manager and deputy director for EUV lithography at [getentity id="22819" comment="GlobalFoundries"]; Aki Fujimura, chief execu... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: March 31


Shish kebab nano necklaces Using a directed self-assembly (DSA) process, Georgia Institute of Technology has developed a method to make nanometer-scale, chip-based necklaces. The technique could enable organic-inorganic structures, which resemble a tiny shish kebab or a centipede. The structures are made with various materials, such as semiconductors, magnetics, ferroelectrics and others. ... » read more

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