Paper
16 August 2002 Mask strategy at International SEMATECH
Author Affiliations +
Proceedings Volume 4764, 18th European Conference on Mask Technology for Integrated Circuits and Microcomponents; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.479332
Event: 18th European Mask Conference on Mask Technology for Integrated Circuits and Micro-Components, 2002, Munich-Unterhaching, Germany
Abstract
International SEMATECH (ISMT) is a consortium consisting of 13 leading semiconductor manufacturers from around the globe. Its objective is to develop the infrastructure necessary for its member companies to realize the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) through efficiencies of shared development resources and knowledge. The largest area of effort is lithography, recognized as a crucial enabler for microelectronics technology progress. Within the Lithography Division, most of the efforts center on mask-related issues. The development strategy at International SEMATCH will be presented and the interlock of lithography projects clarified. Because of the limited size of the mask production equipment market, the business case is weak for aggressive investment commensurate with the pace of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. With masks becoming the overwhelming component of lithography cost, new ways of reducing or eliminating mask costs are being explored. Will mask technology survive without a strong business case? Will the mask industry limit the growth of the semiconductor industry? Are advanced masks worth their escalating cost? An analysis of mask cost from the perspective of mask value imparted to the user is presented with examples and generic formulas for the reader to apply independently. A key part to the success for both International SEMATECH and the industry globally will be partnerships on both the local level between mask-maker and mask-user, and the macro level where global collaborations will be necessary to resolve technology development cost challenges.
© (2002) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Kurt R. Kimmel "Mask strategy at International SEMATECH", Proc. SPIE 4764, 18th European Conference on Mask Technology for Integrated Circuits and Microcomponents, (16 August 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.479332
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KEYWORDS
Photomasks

Semiconducting wafers

Lithography

Composites

Semiconductors

Binary data

Inspection

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