2022 Survey: Luminaries Report Positive EUV Impact On Mask Trends


The eBeam Initiatives 11th Annual Luminaries Survey from July 2022 shows • EUV viewed as a positive impact for mask revenue • EUV remains the top reason for purchasing multi-beam mask writers • Confidence remains high in ability to make curvilinear masks with availability of multi-beam mask writers less of an issue this year Click here to read the survey results. » read more

Survey: 2020 eBeam Initiative Annual Survey Results


Aki Fujimura, the CEO of D2S, Inc. presented "The eBeam Initiative's Annual Survey Results at Photomask" at Photomask Japan 2021 in April 2021. Survey says that COVID has a net neutral business impact on total mask revenues. By 2021, 24% positive vs 20% negative COVID-related business predictions. 74% agree actinic inspection for EUV HVM by 2023, and more results. Click here to read more. » read more

Survey: eBeam Initiative Luminaries (formerly Perceptions) Survey Results


Survey of 77 industry luminaries across 42 different companies in July 2020 says net neutral COVID-19 business impact by 2021, with 24% positive vs 20% negative predictions. Click here to view the survey results. » read more

2019-2020 Mask Maker Survey Results


The survey results of the 2019-2020 Mask Maker Survey from the eBeam Initiative. • Multi-Beam and EUV Trends Becoming Visible • 558,834 masks reported by 10 different companies than last year • Masks written with Multi-Beam Mask Writers more than doubled • EUV mask yield reported at 91% • MPC usage increasing at leading edge nodes Click here to see the presentation. » read more

Survey: 2019 eBeam Initiative Perceptions Survey Results


Results of the 2020 eBeam Initiative Perceptions survey, now called the Luminaries survey, will be made available starting on September 22 here: Meanwhile, here is the 8th Annual Perceptions Survey – 2019 (July). 68 luminaries across 42 different companies participated. Some highlights: Deep learning impact predicted by 2020: 76% of the respondents say it’s somewhat to very lik... » read more

Machine Learning For IC Production


Semiconductor Engineering sat down to discuss artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and chip and photomask manufacturing technologies with Aki Fujimura, chief executive of D2S; Jerry Chen, business and ecosystem development manager at Nvidia; Noriaki Nakayamada, senior technologist at NuFlare; and Mikael Wahlsten, director and product area manager at Mycronic. What follows are excerpt... » read more

Next EUV Challenge: Mask Inspection


Extreme ultraviolet ([gettech id="31045" comment="EUV"]) lithography is still not ready for prime time, but the technology finally is moving in the right direction. The EUV light source, for example, is making progress after years of delays and setbacks. Now, amid a possible breakthrough in EUV, the industry is revisiting a nagging issue and asking a simple question: How do you inspect EUV p... » read more