Recent #Imec news in the semiconductor industry

3 months ago

➀ ASML and imec have signed a new strategic partnership agreement, focusing on research and sustainability.

➁ The agreement aims to deliver valuable solutions in two areas: advancing the semiconductor industry and developing sustainable innovation initiatives.

➂ The collaboration includes ASML's full product portfolio, focusing on high-end nodes and advanced technologies.

AIASMLAdvanced PackagingEUVImecR&DSilicon Photonicsinnovationmemorysemiconductorsustainability
3 months ago

➀ Intel has begun production with the first two of ASML's advanced lithography machines in its factory, showing early data indicating increased reliability over earlier models.

➁ Intel, which became the first chip manufacturer to receive these machines last year, plans to use them to develop 18A manufacturing technology for mass production later this year.

➂ Imec has demonstrated the first electrical yield results from 20nm spacing metal lines patterned using High NA EUV single patterning technology, showing good electrical yield and fewer random defects.

EUV LithographyImecIntelsemiconductor manufacturing
5 months ago

➀ SRAM has been used in high-performance computing architectures as embedded cache for decades, but its bit density expansion has slowed down and is affected by standby power issues.

➁ Spin Orbit Torque (SOT) MRAM offers advantages like low standby power, GHz-level switching speed, negligible leakage, almost infinite endurance, high reliability, and scalability, making it a promising alternative to SRAM.

➂ SOT-MRAM uses magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) as its basic building block, where the magnetic orientation can be vertical or in-plane, affecting the read and write operations.

➃ Recent advancements in SOT-MRAM technology, including improvements by imec, have demonstrated high switching speeds and durability, addressing key challenges in cache applications.

➄ Imec has developed innovative solutions for field-free switching, low dynamic power consumption, and scaling SOT-MRAM devices to the limit, making it a milestone for high-density SRAM applications.

➅ Further optimization of performance and reliability parameters, such as retention rate and write error rate, is being explored to bring SOT-MRAM closer to real-world specifications.

➆ Imec has also presented a novel composite free layer for MTJ, which improves the reliability of SOT-MRAM devices and reduces sensitivity to external magnetic disturbances.

ImecSRAMmemory
5 months ago

➀ SRAM has been used in high-performance computing architectures as embedded cache for decades, but its bit density expansion has slowed down and is affected by standby power issues.

➁ Spin Orbit Torque (SOT) MRAM offers advantages like low standby power, GHz-level switching speed, negligible leakage, almost infinite endurance, high reliability, and scalability, making it a promising alternative to SRAM.

➂ SOT-MRAM uses magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) as its basic building block, where the magnetic orientation can be vertical or in-plane, affecting the read and write operations.

➃ Recent advancements in SOT-MRAM technology, including improvements by imec, have demonstrated high switching speeds and durability, addressing key challenges in cache applications.

➄ Imec has developed innovative solutions for field-free switching, low dynamic power consumption, and scaling SOT-MRAM devices to the limit, making it a milestone for high-density SRAM applications.

➅ Further optimization of performance and reliability parameters, such as retention rate and write error rate, is being explored to bring SOT-MRAM closer to real-world specifications.

➆ Imec has also presented a novel composite free layer for MTJ, which improves the reliability of SOT-MRAM devices and reduces sensitivity to external magnetic disturbances.

ImecSRAMmemory
6 months ago

➀ Intel, TSMC, and Samsung are advancing their processes to 1.8nm (18A) and 1.6nm (16A) with full-gate transistors (Intel calls them RibbonFET) and further to the 14A node.

➁ Imec is researching the next-generation complementary field-effect transistor (CFET) stacked transistors on the process roadmap.

➂ Imec will showcase its CFET standard cell at the 2024 IEEE International Electronic Devices Meeting (IEDM) this week, which includes two rows of CFET with a shared signal wiring wall, reducing the area of logic and SRAM units significantly.

➃ Intel has made breakthroughs in 2D transistor technology using beyond-silicon materials, chip interconnects, and packaging technologies.

➄ Intel's RibbonFET is the company's first new transistor design since the introduction of FinFET 13 years ago and is the company's first full-gate (GAA) transistor.

ImecIntelsemiconductor technology
6 months ago
➀ Skinetix, a spin-off from imec/VUB, is developing sports clothing with integrated sensors to record detailed movement and muscle activity for injury prevention; ➁ The platform uses a personalized biomechanical model to provide insights into muscle condition, movement quality, and fatigue; ➂ The technology is designed to assist medical teams in monitoring athletes' muscle activity and optimizing training programs.
AIBiomechanicsImecSensor TechnologySports Technology
8 months ago
➀ The increasing demand for AI in optical modules requires high bandwidth, low power consumption, small size, and high-density packaging. ➁ Micro-ring modulators and multi-wavelength light sources are key technologies for miniaturization and low power consumption. ➂ IMEC's micro-ring modulator receiver has a typical energy consumption of 3.5pj/bit, aiming for <4pj/bit. ➃ Energy consumption of current 800G OSFP optical modules is ~18pj/bit, and using low-power LPO can reduce it to ~8pj/bit. ➄ The future goal is to achieve <1.5pj/bit by optimizing laser technology. ➅ Micro-rings are sensitive to wavelengths and can achieve dense wavelength division multiplexing, meeting AI's needs for small size, multi-channel, high capacity, and low energy consumption. ➆ IMEC's micro-ring modulator has a radius of 2.5μm and can multiplex 27 wavelengths.
AI MarketImec
10 months ago
➀ Imec has released images of single-exposure patterns using ASML’s high-NA EUV scanner, showcasing logic structures down to a 9.5nm half-pitch. ➁ The patterns include 30nm center-to-center random vias and a DRAM-relevant pattern at P22nm pitch, demonstrating the readiness of the ecosystem for high-resolution EUV lithography. ➂ These patterns were created at the ASML-Imec High NA EUV Lithography Lab in Veldhoven, highlighting the potential of High NA EUV for single-print imaging of aggressively-scaled 2D features.
EUV LithographyImecsemiconductor
10 months ago
➀ Imec and ASML have successfully patterned sub-20nm pitch metal layers using High NA EUV lithography in a single exposure. ➁ The results demonstrate the capability of High NA EUV to enable dimensional scaling of logic and memory technologies. ➂ These achievements were made possible through the joint ASML-imec lab, accelerating the introduction of High NA lithography into manufacturing.
ASMLEUVImec
11 months ago
1. Imec, UGent, and Belnet have realized the first Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) links in a 30-month project aiming to secure data transmission using quantum physics principles. 2. The project aims to establish a quantum-secure communication testbed in Belgium, allowing institutions to adapt to the future of digital communication. 3. The first QKD link connects two Ghent University campuses, while additional links serve the European Space Agency and Belnet for secure data transfer.
ImecQuantum CryptographyQuantum Key Distribution