[VDBUH2024] - Johan Janssen - How sand and Java are used to create the world’s most powerful chips

Discover the innovative techniques used in chip-making, from using sand and Java to create powerful transistors, to the precision and automation involved in the process.

Key takeaways

Silicon wafers are used to create tiny transistors, the building blocks of modern electronics, which are too small to be scanned, making it difficult to inspect and improve their quality.
The process is slow, taking about 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and requires high precision to achieve accurate results.
EuV light is used to print tiny features on the wafer, which can be as small as 13nm.
The machine uses reticles, mirrors, and lasers to manipulate the light and create the patterns on the wafer.
Annaht Shannon (NA) is the unit of measurement for the size of features, with 1 NA being 0.65 microns.
The chip-making process involves multiple layers, with each layer requiring precise control to achieve the desired result.
The amount of transistors on a chip doubles every two years, with the goal of creating smaller, more efficient chips.
EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) light is used to print tiny features on the wafer, which can be as small as 13nm.
The machine uses a combination of algorithms and machine learning to optimize the process and improve accuracy.
There are three main types of plugins used in the process: processing, analysis, and UI plugins.
The entire process, from creating the wafer to packaging the finished chip, takes about 30 years.
The company uses Java and Kafka for data processing and Apache Spark for parallel processing.
The goal is to create chips with more transistors, smaller size and higher performance.

[VDBUH2024] - Johan Janssen - How sand and Java are used to create the world’s most powerful chips

More talks