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$ASML is one of the most impressive companies I've come across - its tech may be mankind's greatest achievement
It seems to have an impenetrable moat
$ASML is the ONLY company in the world that can do what they do
Do you want to know why this company excites me?
A thread
It seems to have an impenetrable moat
$ASML is the ONLY company in the world that can do what they do
Do you want to know why this company excites me?
A thread
1/ What is ASML?
The largest supplier of photolithography systems to the Semiconductor industry
*The progress of Moore's Law relies on this company (explained)
No amount of investment from potential competitors can replicate their technical expertise
So what is its tech?
The largest supplier of photolithography systems to the Semiconductor industry
*The progress of Moore's Law relies on this company (explained
)No amount of investment from potential competitors can replicate their technical expertise
So what is its tech?
2/ What is Photolithography?
Simply, its the process of creating circuitry designs / patterns on a substrate (Semis = silicon)
It consists of shining light (UV) through different "masks" (design template) in a layered fashion to harden the systems design into the wafer
Simply, its the process of creating circuitry designs / patterns on a substrate (Semis = silicon)
It consists of shining light (UV) through different "masks" (design template) in a layered fashion to harden the systems design into the wafer
3/ What is circuitry design?
Its the pattern of transistors and interconnects = the integrated circuit ("IC") aka chip.
One silicon wafer produces many ICs.
Moore's Law: # of transistors on same size chip (processing speed) doubles every 1-2 yrs i.e., design must shrink by 50%
Its the pattern of transistors and interconnects = the integrated circuit ("IC") aka chip.
One silicon wafer produces many ICs.
Moore's Law: # of transistors on same size chip (processing speed) doubles every 1-2 yrs i.e., design must shrink by 50%
4/ Nodes & Nanometers ("nm")
Node = Process technology to achieve a certain size of transistors
nm = Size of transistor (not as accurate anymore)
Ex: "10nm Node" = tech to produce chips with 10nm transistors
1 inch = 25.4 MILLION nm
1 nm = ~2 atoms of silicon
Node = Process technology to achieve a certain size of transistors
nm = Size of transistor (not as accurate anymore)
Ex: "10nm Node" = tech to produce chips with 10nm transistors
1 inch = 25.4 MILLION nm
1 nm = ~2 atoms of silicon
5/ ASML Tech
So, we rely on ASMLs tech to reach lower nodes - to create chips with smaller (more) transistors (chips w/ faster processing speeds)
You might be thinking - shining a light through a template doesn't sound too hard
Let me get a little technical to better explain
So, we rely on ASMLs tech to reach lower nodes - to create chips with smaller (more) transistors (chips w/ faster processing speeds)
You might be thinking - shining a light through a template doesn't sound too hard
Let me get a little technical to better explain
6/ Light
Up until 10nm chips, ASML could use UV light in its process (since early 2000s)
UV light = 193nm wavelength
Huh? How can they create 10nm wide transistors with light 193nm wide?
They invented projection techniques to narrow the light length before hitting the wafer
Up until 10nm chips, ASML could use UV light in its process (since early 2000s)
UV light = 193nm wavelength
Huh? How can they create 10nm wide transistors with light 193nm wide?
They invented projection techniques to narrow the light length before hitting the wafer
7/ Extreme UV ("EUV")
To get to the next (lower) node after 10nm, they needed more narrow light
ASML invented the process to use EUV which is 13.5nm wide
They are manipulating atomic particles w/ rapid frequency!
How they're doing so is mind blowing
Check this out
To get to the next (lower) node after 10nm, they needed more narrow light
ASML invented the process to use EUV which is 13.5nm wide
They are manipulating atomic particles w/ rapid frequency!
How they're doing so is mind blowing
Check this out
8/ EUV Creation
EUV light is emitted from tin plasma
Tin plasma: Created by shooting a CO2 laser at molten tin droplets
Collector captures EUV > Shoots it off 10 other mirrors > gets to wafer: only ~2% of light remains
ASML invented these mirrors to not absorb all the light
EUV light is emitted from tin plasma
Tin plasma: Created by shooting a CO2 laser at molten tin droplets
Collector captures EUV > Shoots it off 10 other mirrors > gets to wafer: only ~2% of light remains
ASML invented these mirrors to not absorb all the light
9/ Unfathomable
If only 2% of light remains, how often does tin plasma have to be created for a strong enough light?
The laser pulse & tin droplets need to be timed perfectly to make contact 50,000 TIMES PER SECOND
The timing of the laser and droplets needs to be EXACT
If only 2% of light remains, how often does tin plasma have to be created for a strong enough light?
The laser pulse & tin droplets need to be timed perfectly to make contact 50,000 TIMES PER SECOND
The timing of the laser and droplets needs to be EXACT
10/ The Result
ASML designed a machine with this level of accuracy and capability, creating 13nm wavelength light
The latest chip is 5nm - so, this light is used to make chips with transistors ~5nm in length
They are creating transistors that are 10 ATOMS IN LENGTH! WHAT?!
ASML designed a machine with this level of accuracy and capability, creating 13nm wavelength light
The latest chip is 5nm - so, this light is used to make chips with transistors ~5nm in length
They are creating transistors that are 10 ATOMS IN LENGTH! WHAT?!
Conclusion
This was not a stock pitch
Rather, I found ASMLs technology to be remarkable and wanted to share
They are the only company in the world that can create Photolithography machines that utilize EUV light
ASML is the company that allows Moore's Law to continue
This was not a stock pitch
Rather, I found ASMLs technology to be remarkable and wanted to share
They are the only company in the world that can create Photolithography machines that utilize EUV light
ASML is the company that allows Moore's Law to continue
h/t to @ShaneAParrish and The Knowledge Project
This interview is what truly opened my eyes to the magic of ASML's tech
Thank you Shane for all your great work; thank you Brinton and Jon for all the knowledge!
This interview is what truly opened my eyes to the magic of ASML's tech
Thank you Shane for all your great work; thank you Brinton and Jon for all the knowledge!
