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With a ban on, who would want to sell to them the advanced machines needed to make cutting-edge chips?
Lithography is the heart of the semiconductor fabrication process. It is used to pattern specific shapes of a thin layer on a rigid substrate for fabricating electrical devices. These devices are the result of direct and monolithic integration of several layers on a wafer.
Lithography equipment would be needed. Who makes it? The Dutch company ASML.
ASML manufactures the extreme ultraviolet lithography machines that produce light in the 13.3–13.7 nm wavelength range.
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China is a long way from making its own Lithography Equipment
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Can China make lithography machines?
The only Chinese lithography maker is state-backed Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE), whose equipment is only capable of making chips at the 90nm node.29 Nov 2021
SCMP
US-China tech war: Beijing’s efforts to catch up in advanced chips on hold as country’s attention turns to mature nodes
Only TSMC, Samsung and Intel have stayed in the race below 10nm, so it makes sense for Chinese firms to focus resources on mature chip tech, say analysts
In recent years Chinese suppliers have made some progress in developing high-end photoresists, key materials used in the lithography process
Che Pan in Beijing + FOLLOW
Published: 11:30pm, 29 Nov, 2021
Updated: 12:51pm, 30 Nov, 2021
China has been forced to make a course correction in its drive for semiconductor self-reliance, focusing instead on boosting production of mature technologies while putting the goal of catching up with the world’s most advanced chip makers on the back burner, according to analysts and industry insiders.
The shift offers a cautionary tale on Beijing’s quest to cut its reliance on American technologies. Despite strong political will from President Xi Jinping, generous financial support from the government, and the enthusiasm of domestic players, China is facing the harsh reality that its chances of becoming self-sufficient in advanced chips are remote.
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CNBC
China is pushing to develop its own chips — but the country can’t do without foreign tech
Published Sun, Oct 24 20219:03 PM EDTUpdated Mon, Oct 25 20214:25 AM EDT
- Chinese technology giants from Alibaba to Baidu have been designing their own chips, a move seen as progress towards China’s goal to boost its domestic capabilities in a critical technology.
- In reality, China is still a long way off even if it’s one step closer to self-sufficiency, says one expert, adding that the country is still heavily dependent on foreign technology and lagging in the so-called leading edge part of the chip market.
- China’s reliance on foreign companies in the semiconductor supply chain could make domestic firms vulnerable to any geopolitical tensions as has been the case with both Huawei and SMIC.
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TechTaiwan
Is Huawei Making Its Own Lithography Equipment?
Misha Lu
2021-06-09
Ever since the United States added Huawei to its Entity List in 2019, its chip designing subsidiary HiSilicon became Huawei’s main source of chips. Back then, HiSilicon was the second largest customer of TSMC.
When more sanctions followed, not only was HiSilicone deprived of TSMC’s advanced manufacturing processes, its alternative supplier, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), was also barred from obtaining ASML’s EUV (Extreme ultraviolet) lithography equipment. SMIC is China’s homegrown champion to rival TSMC, but has been facing difficulties with progressing to 7nm and beyond without the EUV machines. According to SMIC, it can only manufacture at 40nm node without US suppliers.
Ever since, Huawei and the Chinese semiconductor industry have been striving to expand upstream, realizing that the IC manufacturing equipment are the chokepoint of the industry. Recently, industry watchers believe that Huawei has taken the first move to develop its own photolithography equipment.
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Hubble Technology Investment, Huawei’s investment vehicle founded in 2019, has lately taken a 4.76% share in Beijing RSLaser Opto-Electronics Technology, becoming its 7th largest shareholder. On the first look, it appears to be an ordinary laser technology company. However, it could fill a gap essential to China’s development of its own lithography equipment.
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In 2018, RSLaser shipped its products for the first time. It has also become a supplier of Shanghai Microelectronics Equipment Co. (SMEE). SMEE is China’s most prominent photolithography equipment manufacturer, but it only produces 90nm lithography machines. However, SMEE has announced that it will deliver China’s first 28nm lithography machines between 2021 and 2022.
Technically, DUV machines can enable 7nm process node, as TSMC achieved via multiple-patterning.
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According to SMEE, for example, despite its 20 years of lithography machine development, its current 90nm equipment is still ten years behind ASML’s products.
https://techtaiwan.com/20210609/huawei-duv/
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weehingthong 