Intel ha completato la fase di sviluppo di un progetto che punta a rendere possibile la produzione dei dispositivi elettronici (transistor in soldoni, ndr) mediante un processo di nuova generazione che faccia uso di una tecnologia a 32nm (ricordiamo che gli attuali processori di Intel sono realizzati in tecnologia a 45nm).

La prospettiva attuale prevede il passaggio del nuovo processo nella catena produttiva a partire dall'ultimo trimestre del 2009. Il chip maker ha promesso la divulgazione di tutti i dettagli del caso in occasione dell' International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), che si terrà la prossima settimana a San Francisco.

Ricordiamo che la riduzione della geometria dei dispositivi si accompagna alla implementazione di chip più veloci ed efficienti dal punto di vista energetico. Inoltre, risultano minimizzati gli effetti del cosidetto problema della "ripetibilità delle caratteristiche", dal momento che cresce il livello di integrazione, e, di conseguenza, i costi di produzione.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 9, 2008 - Intel Corporation has completed the development phase of its next-generation manufacturing process that further shrinks chip circuitry to 32 nanometers (a billionth of a meter). The company is on track for production readiness of this future generation using even more energy-efficient, denser and higher performing transistors in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Intel will provide a multitude of technical details around the 32nm process technology along with several other topics during presentations at the International Electron Devices meeting (IEDM) next week in San Francisco. Finishing the development phase for the company's 32nm process technology and production readiness in this timeframe means that Intel remains on pace with its ambitious product and manufacturing cadence referred to as the company's "tick-tock" strategy.

That plan revolves around introducing an entirely new processor microarchitecture alternating with a cutting edge manufacturing process about every 12 months, an effort unmatched in the industry. Producing 32nm chips next year would mark the fourth consecutive year Intel has met its goal.

The Intel 32nm paper and presentation describe a logic technology that incorporates second-generation high-k + metal gate technology, 193nm immersion lithography for critical patterning layers and enhanced transistor strain techniques. These features enhance the performance and energy efficiency of Intel processors. Intel's manufacturing process has the highest transistor performance and the highest transistor density of any reported 32nm technology in the industry.

"Our manufacturing prowess and resulting products have helped us widen our lead in computing performance and battery life for Intel-based laptops, servers and desktops," said Mark Bohr, Intel Senior Fellow and director of process architecture and integration. "As we've shown this year, the manufacturing strategy and execution have also given us the ability to create entirely new product lines for MIDs, CE equipment, embedded computers and netbooks."

Other Intel IEDM papers will describe a low power system on chip version of Intel's 45nm process, transistors based on compound semiconductors, substrate engineering to improve performance of 45nm transistors, integrating chemical mechanical polish for the 45nm node and beyond; and, integrating an array of silicon photonics modulators. Intel will also participate in a short course on 22nm CMOS Technology.

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