Intel in 14 nanometers and 10 metric process to promote delays, has affected the processor launch schedule, make the industry and the market also question: if Moore's law has reached its limits? However, Intel is still actively seeking in the age of seven nanometers to Moore's law, the method of two big arms, are regarded as major lithography technology alternation of generations of extreme ultraviolet (EUV), and adopted including indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) and indium phosphide (InP) semiconductor materials such as three to five.
Moore's law could be sustained, the key lies in the lithography technology difficulty becomes more and more high. Currently include Intel, TSMC, samsung and other companies, mainly adopts multiple exposure (multi - patterning) infiltration fading shadow (immersionlithography) technology, but when the generation process technology to 10 nanometers (nm), high density of logic IC needs at least 4 layer, the manufacturing cost of natural up sharply.
In order to solve the problem of the cost of lithography layer process, major semiconductor companies in recent years has been working on EUV lithography technology research and development, for nearly a year, although the technology has significant breakthrough, but still not in mass production to achieve economies of scale. However, according to the holistic equipment company escitalopram Moore (ASML) shows that daily exposure wafer production capacity will increase this year to more than 1500 pieces, will help the industry began to adopt the technology.
Intel has planning in 7 nai metric cheng began to adopt the technology, if can achieve economies of scale, mass production for seven nanometers, Intel is expected to return to the cycle of Moore's law. As for TSMC part, has plans to start testing in seven nanometers, if all goes well, will be available in 5 nanometers generation began to import technology. Whether Intel or TSMC, EUV production time about fall in 2020.
Semiconductor materials is also an important change continuation of Moore's law. Intel has begun to try to use including indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) and indium phosphide (InP), and other five semiconductor material, hope to be able to after seven nanometers to the change of the material, as long as you can return to the cycle of Moore's law, Intel processor development strategy can be back in two years cycle track.
TSMC 16 nanometers started using fin type field-effect transistors (FinFET) process, and 10 nanometers and seven nanometers will continue to adopt FinFET technology, and to five nanometers, also has plans to change the semiconductor materials. It is understood that TSMC is likely to be in 5 nanometers generation by several families of the InGaAs semiconductor materials, to maintain the effectiveness of Moore's law.
