Process refers to a specific semiconductor manufacturing process and its design rules. Different processes mean different circuit characteristics. Generally speaking, smaller process nodes mean smaller transistors, faster speed and better energy consumption performance.

In the transistor structure, the current flows from the source to the drain, and the gate is equivalent to the gate that controls the on-off of the source and the drain.

Nanometer in the manufacturing process refers to the gate length of a single transistor, which is called the gate length, and is usually considered as the length of the conductive channel of the transistor.

The advanced technology is to make the gate as small as possible. The gate length is the key to determine the device size, the symbol of semiconductor integration, and the symbol to distinguish different semiconductor manufacturing processes.

From the figure, we can see the process of reducing the door length: before 1990, the reduction of the door length is almost completely linear; After 1990, the door length decreases faster and is no longer completely linear.

2. Development process

197 1 year, Intel released the world's first CPUintel4004, 10000nm process, which integrated 2250 transistors.

By 2020, Apple's A 14 will be the first one to successfully apply the 5nm technology in the world, which integrates11800 million transistors.

With the development and evolution of process nodes from 5nm to 3nm, the difficulty of chip manufacturing gradually approaches the physical limit.

3. Naming rules

The iteration of the process follows Moore's law: each generation of process doubles the number of transistors on the chip, and the naming of each subsequent process node is about 07 times that of the previous generation. That is, the current process node is multiplied by 0.7 to get the next generation process node.

With the development of manufacturing technology, the technical modes of transistors range from planar transistor (PlanarFET) to thin transistor (FinFET) to the most advanced fully enclosed gate transistor (GAAFET).

When the process is less than 22nm, the sentence "process = gate length" loses its meaning. There is no uniform standard for the process claimed by various semiconductor manufacturers, and nanotechnology is only a commercial name and marketing slogan representing a certain scale and technology.

For example: the transistor density of each manufacturer.

Intel: 10 nm node, which has reached10.6 million /mm?

Samsung: 7 nm node, 95 million /mm?

TSMC: 7 nm node, which is 97 million /mm?

It can be seen that Intel 10nm is at the same level as the 7nm process of Samsung and TSMC. However, due to the different naming, the 7nm process is more eye-catching.

4. Present situation of advanced technology

When the process technology reaches 5nm, the competition among global chip manufacturers is becoming more and more fierce, and the stronger it is, the stronger it is.

At present, only MediaTek, Apple, Qualcomm, Samsung and Huawei have released chip designers with 4nm and 5nm processes. Among the manufacturing enterprises, TSMC and Samsung, the two most advanced enterprises, can produce chips below 5 nanometers. In contrast, TSMC's output and capacity are higher.

5. The current situation of Huawei

Kirin 9000 series is the world's first 5G integrated SoC chip with 5nm technology released by Huawei. It is completely online in performance and function, and its strength is beyond doubt. Coupled with Huawei's 5G technology on the chip, to some extent, Huawei has gradually surpassed the world's strongest chip design company and even led in 5 G. This is also the most taboo in America.

Therefore, the United States suppressed Huawei and chose to start with chip manufacturing. Unfortunately, Huawei can design chips independently, but the manufacturing of high-end chips must be handed over to TSMC. In order to avoid becoming the next target of sanctions, TSMC naturally suspended its cooperation with Huawei.

Without the foundry, the most advanced chips designed by Huawei can only be a pile of circuit diagrams lying in the computer, which will never reach the production link, the market and the consumers.

Sincerely look forward to: domestic chips will be independent as soon as possible and will no longer be subject to others! Huawei will return as soon as possible.